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Synonyms

referral

American  
[ri-fur-uhl] / rɪˈfɜr əl /

noun

  1. an act of referring; the state of being referred.

  2. an instance of referring.

  3. a person recommended to someone or for something.


Etymology

Origin of referral

First recorded in 1930–35; refer + -al 2

Explanation

A referral sends someone somewhere, often for help or advice. You'll need a referral from your doctor in order to see a specialist. You could also receive a referral for a job, if someone passes along your application. If you're dealing with a big company or institution, you might get tired of the endless referrals from one department to another. Remember that referral has two r's in the middle, “rr,” like a growl.

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