diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/index.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/index.ts
index 2716ccd345..3562bbbe3d 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/index.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/index.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ export {
   isOperationElement,
   isParameterElement,
   isPathItemElement,
+  isPathItemElementExternal,
   isPathsElement,
   isReferenceElement,
   isReferenceElementExternal,
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/predicates.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/predicates.ts
index a7c5929513..50da8cfdda 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/predicates.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/predicates.ts
@@ -183,6 +183,19 @@ export const isPathItemElement = createPredicate(
   },
 );
 
+export const isPathItemElementExternal = (element: any): element is PathItemElement => {
+  if (!isPathItemElement(element)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (!isStringElement(element.$ref)) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  const value = element.$ref.toValue();
+
+  return isNonEmptyString(value) && !startsWith('#', value);
+};
+
 export const isPathsElement = createPredicate(
   ({ hasBasicElementProps, isElementType, primitiveEq }) => {
     const isElementTypePaths = isElementType('paths');
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/refractor/predicates.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/refractor/predicates.ts
index cd403afb88..d806971e16 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/refractor/predicates.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/src/refractor/predicates.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { MemberElement, isStringElement, isObjectElement, Element } from 'apidom';
-import { startsWith, all } from 'ramda';
+import { startsWith } from 'ramda';
 
 export const isOpenApi3_1LikeElement = <T extends Element>(element: T): boolean => {
   // @ts-ignore
@@ -12,20 +12,8 @@ export const isParameterLikeElement = <T extends Element>(element: T): boolean =
 };
 
 export const isReferenceLikeElement = <T extends Element>(element: T): boolean => {
-  const isAllowedProperty = (property: string): boolean => {
-    // @ts-ignore
-    return ['$ref', 'description', 'summary'].includes(property);
-  };
-
-  return (
-    isObjectElement(element) &&
-    // @ts-ignore
-    element.hasKey('$ref') &&
-    // @ts-ignore
-    element.keys.length <= 3 &&
-    // @ts-ignore
-    all(isAllowedProperty)(element.keys)
-  );
+  // @ts-ignore
+  return isObjectElement(element) && element.hasKey('$ref');
 };
 
 export const isRequestBodyLikeElement = <T extends Element>(element: T): boolean => {
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap
index 44660a3124..d398391746 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap
@@ -115,5 +115,14 @@ exports[`refractor elements ComponentsElement should refract to semantic ApiDOM
         (ReferenceElement
           (MemberElement
             (StringElement)
-            (StringElement)))))))
+            (StringElement))))
+      (MemberElement
+        (StringElement)
+        (ReferenceElement
+          (MemberElement
+            (StringElement)
+            (StringElement))
+          (MemberElement
+            (StringElement)
+            (ObjectElement)))))))
 `;
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/index.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/index.ts
index e65e7ca992..0665d32208 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/index.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-3-1/test/refractor/elements/Components/index.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ describe('refractor', function () {
           pathItems: {
             PathItem1: {},
             PathItem2: { $ref: '#/components/pathsItems/PathItem1' },
+            PathItem3: {
+              $ref: '#/components/pathsItems/PathItem1',
+              get: {},
+            },
           },
         });
 
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/src/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/visitor.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/src/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/visitor.ts
index 4cad4c0818..60a1464ad1 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/src/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/visitor.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/src/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/visitor.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ import {
   isReferenceLikeElement,
   keyMap,
   ReferenceElement,
+  PathItemElement,
   SchemaElement,
   isReferenceElementExternal,
+  isPathItemElementExternal,
   isSchemaElementExternal,
 } from 'apidom-ns-openapi-3-1';
 
@@ -161,6 +163,81 @@ const OpenApi3_1DereferenceVisitor = stampit({
       return fragment;
     },
 
+    async PathItemElement(pathItemElement: PathItemElement) {
+      // ignore PathItemElement without $ref field
+      if (!isStringElement(pathItemElement.$ref)) {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+
+      // ignore resolving external Reference Objects
+      if (!this.options.resolve.external && isPathItemElementExternal(pathItemElement)) {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+
+      // @ts-ignore
+      const reference = await this.toReference(pathItemElement.$ref.toValue());
+
+      this.indirections.push(pathItemElement);
+
+      const jsonPointer = uriToPointer(pathItemElement.$ref.toValue());
+
+      // possibly non-semantic fragment
+      let referencedElement = jsonPointerEvaluate(jsonPointer, reference.value.result);
+
+      // applying semantics to a fragment
+      if (isPrimitiveElement(referencedElement)) {
+        referencedElement = PathItemElement.refract(referencedElement);
+      }
+
+      // detect direct or indirect reference
+      if (this.indirections.includes(referencedElement)) {
+        throw new Error('Recursive JSON Pointer detected');
+      }
+
+      // detect maximum depth of dereferencing
+      if (this.indirections.length > this.options.dereference.maxDepth) {
+        throw new MaximumDereferenceDepthError(
+          `Maximum dereference depth of "${this.options.dereference.maxDepth}" has been exceeded in file "${this.reference.uri}"`,
+        );
+      }
+
+      // dive deep into the fragment
+      const visitor: any = OpenApi3_1DereferenceVisitor({
+        reference,
+        namespace: this.namespace,
+        indirections: [...this.indirections],
+        options: this.options,
+      });
+      referencedElement = await visitAsync(referencedElement, visitor, {
+        keyMap,
+        nodeTypeGetter: getNodeType,
+      });
+
+      this.indirections.pop();
+
+      // merge fields from referenced Path Item with referencing one
+      const mergedResult = new PathItemElement(
+        // @ts-ignore
+        [...referencedElement.content],
+        referencedElement.meta.clone(),
+        referencedElement.attributes.clone(),
+      );
+      // existing keywords from referencing PathItemElement overrides ones from referenced schema
+      pathItemElement.forEach((value: Element, key: Element, item: Element) => {
+        mergedResult.remove(key.toValue());
+        mergedResult.content.push(item);
+      });
+      mergedResult.remove('$ref');
+
+      // annotate referencing element with info about original referenced element
+      mergedResult.setMetaProperty('ref-fields', {
+        $ref: pathItemElement.$ref?.toValue(),
+      });
+
+      // transclude referencing element with merged referenced element
+      return mergedResult;
+    },
+
     async SchemaElement(referencingElement: SchemaElement) {
       /**
        * Skip traversal for already visited schemas and all their child schemas.
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d0e6b4ed1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path1 item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path2": {
+        "summary": "path2 item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a49cbf0e5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/additional-fields/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path2",
+      "summary": "path1 item summary"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "summary": "path2 item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/ex.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d55709987
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/ex.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$ref": "./root.json#/paths/~1path1"
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7850ce66b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-external-circular/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex.json"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-internal-circular/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-internal-circular/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c727e272f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/direct-internal-circular/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path2"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path1"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f02538ef6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex1.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex1.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7b3e3be55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$ref": "./ex2.json#/~1path3"
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex2.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex2.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6d9558407
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/ex2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "/path3": {
+    "summary": "path item summary",
+    "description": "path item description",
+    "get": {}
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5557004334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-indirections/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex1.json"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f02538ef6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/ex.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da09224581
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/ex.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "/path2": {
+    "summary": "path item summary",
+    "description": "path item description",
+    "get": {}
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5843b01245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/external-only/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex.json#/~1path2"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dde8e5a6a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "$ref": "./ex.json#/~1path2"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/ex.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da09224581
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/ex.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "/path2": {
+    "summary": "path item summary",
+    "description": "path item description",
+    "get": {}
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5843b01245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/ignore-external/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex.json#/~1path2"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex1.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex1.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8e49d4768f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$ref": "./ex2.json"
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex2.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex2.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4d55709987
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/ex2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$ref": "./root.json#/paths/~1path1"
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5557004334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-external-circular/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex1.json"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-internal-circular/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-internal-circular/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..16c0928aa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/indirect-internal-circular/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path2"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path3"
+    },
+    "/path3": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path1"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a84c3aa600
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path3": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path4": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/ex.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da09224581
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/ex.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "/path2": {
+    "summary": "path item summary",
+    "description": "path item description",
+    "get": {}
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..71d688c0be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-external/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex.json#/~1path2"
+    },
+    "/path3": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path4"
+    },
+    "/path4": {
+      "summary": "path item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..417a402ed3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path2": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path3": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bf154cb3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-indirections/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path2"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path3"
+    },
+    "/path3": {
+      "summary": "path item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/dereferenced.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f45de7e5c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/dereferenced.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+[
+  {
+    "openapi": "3.1.0",
+    "paths": {
+      "/path1": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      },
+      "/path2": {
+        "summary": "path item summary",
+        "description": "path item description",
+        "get": {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+]
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12fe95541e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/internal-only/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/~1path2"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "summary": "path item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d4df81c5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "invalid-pointer"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "summary": "path item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex1.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex1.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7b3e3be55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex1.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "$ref": "./ex2.json#/~1path3"
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex2.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex2.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6d9558407
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/ex2.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "/path3": {
+    "summary": "path item summary",
+    "description": "path item description",
+    "get": {}
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5557004334
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/max-depth/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "./ex1.json"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/unresolvable-path-item/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/unresolvable-path-item/root.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f7c6dcf9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/fixtures/unresolvable-path-item/root.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "openapi": "3.1.0",
+  "paths": {
+    "/path1": {
+      "$ref": "#/paths/invalid-pointer"
+    },
+    "/path2": {
+      "summary": "path item summary",
+      "description": "path item description",
+      "get": {}
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/index.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/index.ts
index d8cc19d1c7..dbefffe72c 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/index.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/path-item-object/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { toValue } from 'apidom';
 
 import { loadJsonFile } from '../../../../helpers';
 import { dereference } from '../../../../../src';
+import { DereferenceError, MaximumDereferenceDepthError } from '../../../../../src/util/errors';
 
 const rootFixturePath = path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures');
 
@@ -52,6 +53,229 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
           });
         });
+
+        context('given Path Item Object $ref field', function () {
+          context('given $ref field pointing internally only', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'internal-only');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field pointing externally only', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'external-only');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field pointing internally and externally', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'internal-external');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field + additional fields', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'additional-fields');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given external resolution disabled', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'ignore-external');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                resolve: { external: false },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field pointing to internal indirection', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'internal-indirections');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field pointing to external indirections', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'external-indirections');
+
+            specify('should dereference', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+              const actual = await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+              });
+              const expected = loadJsonFile(path.join(fixturePath, 'dereferenced.json'));
+
+              assert.deepEqual(toValue(actual), expected);
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with invalid JSON Pointer', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'invalid-pointer');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field and maxDepth of dereference', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'max-depth');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                  dereference: { maxDepth: 1 },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw MaximumDereferenceDepthError');
+              } catch (error) {
+                assert.instanceOf(error, DereferenceError);
+                assert.instanceOf(error.cause.cause, MaximumDereferenceDepthError);
+                assert.match(error.cause.cause.message, /fixtures\/max-depth\/ex1.json"$/);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with unresolvable JSON Pointer', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'unresolvable-path-item');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with with direct circular internal reference', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'direct-internal-circular');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with with indirect circular internal reference', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'indirect-internal-circular');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with with direct circular external reference', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'direct-external-circular');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+
+          context('given $ref field with with indirect circular external reference', function () {
+            const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'indirect-external-circular');
+
+            specify('should throw error', async function () {
+              const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
+
+              try {
+                await dereference(rootFilePath, {
+                  parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
+                });
+                assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
+              } catch (e) {
+                assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
+              }
+            });
+          });
+        });
       });
     });
   });
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/dereferenced.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/dereferenced.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/dereferenced.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/ex.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/ex.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/ex.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/root.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/root.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-fields/root.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/dereferenced.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/dereferenced.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/dereferenced.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/dereferenced.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/ex.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/ex.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-props/ex.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/ex.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/root.json
similarity index 100%
rename from apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-props/root.json
rename to apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/additional-ignored-fields/root.json
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json
index 716be399be..afde294f76 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/fixtures/invalid-pointer/root.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "components": {
     "parameters": {
       "userId": {
-        "$ref": "#/components/parameters/invalid-pointer",
+        "$ref": "invalid-pointer",
         "description": "override"
       },
       "userIdRef": {
diff --git a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/index.ts b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/index.ts
index 6a0b09e452..867e0ba840 100644
--- a/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/index.ts
+++ b/apidom/packages/apidom-reference/test/dereference/strategies/openapi-3-1/reference-object/index.ts
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
         });
       });
 
-      context('given Reference Objects with additional props', function () {
-        const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'additional-props');
+      context('given Reference Objects with additional fields', function () {
+        const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'additional-fields');
 
         specify('should dereference', async function () {
           const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
         });
       });
 
-      context('given Reference Objects with additional ignored props', function () {
-        const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'additional-ignored-props');
+      context('given Reference Objects with additional ignored fields', function () {
+        const fixturePath = path.join(rootFixturePath, 'additional-ignored-fields');
 
         specify('should dereference', async function () {
           const rootFilePath = path.join(fixturePath, 'root.json');
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }
@@ -197,6 +199,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }
@@ -212,6 +215,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }
@@ -227,6 +231,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }
@@ -242,6 +247,7 @@ describe('dereference', function () {
             await dereference(rootFilePath, {
               parse: { mediaType: 'application/vnd.oai.openapi+json;version=3.1.0' },
             });
+            assert.fail('should throw DereferenceError');
           } catch (e) {
             assert.instanceOf(e, DereferenceError);
           }