referee
Americannoun
-
referees
plural
-
one to whom something is referred, especially for decision or settlement; arbitrator.
- Synonyms:
- arbiter
-
(in certain games and sports) a judge having functions fixed by the rules of the game or sport; umpire.
-
an authority who evaluates scientific, technical, or scholarly papers, grant proposals, or the like for the publication or funding institution to which they have been submitted.
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Law. a person selected by a court to take testimony in a case and return it to the court with recommendations as to the decision.
verb (used with object)
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referees,
present (3rd person singular)
-
refereed,
past participle, past
-
refereeing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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referees,
present (3rd person singular)
-
refereed,
past participle, past
-
refereeing
present participle
noun
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a person to whom reference is made, esp for an opinion, information, or a decision
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the umpire or judge in any of various sports, esp football and boxing, responsible for ensuring fair play according to the rules
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a person who is willing to testify to the character or capabilities of someone
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law See Official Referee
verb
Usage
What does referee mean? The word referee most commonly refers to an official in a sporting event who enforces the rules of the game. In sports, referees do things like call fouls and stop play when there has been a violation of the rules. Basketball, football, and soccer are examples of sports that used this kind of referee. In the context of sports, the word referee is commonly shortened with the informal term ref. The word referee is also sometimes used to refer to a person who acts as a formal authority or arbitrator in some kind of decision, such as a legal case. Sometimes, the word refers to a person who’s responsible for reviewing scientific or academic papers or grant proposals. Referee can also be used in a figurative way to refer to someone who has to enforce the rules in some situation, as in I spent the afternoon playing referee to several toddlers. In all of its senses, referee can be used as a verb meaning to act as a referee, as in I signed up to referee my daughter’s soccer games. Example: I’ve never understood why players argue with referees—have you ever seen one reverse their call?
Synonym Usage
See judge.
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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refereesimple
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refereessimple
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have refereedperfect
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has refereedperfect
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am refereeingprogressive
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are refereeingprogressive
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is refereeingprogressive
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have been refereeingperfect progressive
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has been refereeingperfect progressive
Past
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refereedsimple
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had refereedperfect
-
was refereeingprogressive
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were refereeingprogressive
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had been refereeingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of referee
Explanation
That guy on the field in black and white stripes? He's a referee, an official in a sport like football or basketball who enforces the rules. In sports, referees are there to make sure the rules are followed and everyone gets a fair shake. This word works as both a noun and a verb: referees referee games. Off the court, the world is full of everyday referees. A court appointed lawyer who investigates and reports on a case is a referee. And academics who evaluate each other's work are referees. In all cases, referees get to make official calls on what's OK and not OK.
Vocabulary lists containing referee
Set, Hut! Football Vocabulary
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Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"The referee followed the protocol for these sort of situations, they did the right thing," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
After Kevin Warsh took over the Federal Reserve this spring, he said he wanted investors to watch the economy, not the Fed: Play the ball, not the referee.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
On a play that was whistled dead because of a neutral zone infraction, Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson appeared to be shoved into referee Adrian Hill, who was knocked to the ground.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
The Corona Centennial High football team has an interesting blend of players spelling their similar first names differently, leaving coach Matt Logan to be the referee as to which parents got the spelling correct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
I spin back around, salute the referee, my opponent.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Now his son, Carl, is one of the top NFL referees and has worked three Super Bowls.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
And yes, sometimes these games do go the other way, like a few weeks ago, when Western Michigan beat Michigan, only to have time traveling referees give the Wolverines a chance to take it back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
The UJC has helped to train more than 1,050 British coaches and referees this year, some of whom were at Saturday's game.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Andrews, whose Brentford side are seventh in the Premier League, said referees were no longer allowed to "make mistakes".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Whenever the calls are left to the referees, it is our personal coach who steps in to persuade the refs to call a point one way or the other.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Barton officiated the France-Spain match, while American Ismail Elfath refereed the England-Argentina match.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Of course there is an argument that this can be a foul, but it would be inconsistent with how the tournament has been refereed.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
If you change the way a game is being refereed, you must adapt video review too.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Crane has refereed 17 races in 12 countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025
“When’s he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He’s not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin.”
From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
Atletico manager Simeone rejected the suggestion the result would be overshadowed by the refereeing debate, saying his team had controlled the contest.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
"I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are," said Webb, Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Erling Haaland scored the only goal, with the Premier League's refereeing body later admitting a mistake as it should have been ruled out for offside.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
The decision was made by the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the management team.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
When Judge Joseph Wapner, most famous for being the judge on The People’s Court television show, ended up refereeing the depositions, Moore figured no one would take the case seriously.
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
