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View synonyms for ref.

ref

1

[ref]

noun

Sports Slang.
reffed, reffing 
  1. referee.



ref.

2

abbreviation

  1. referee.

  2. reference.

  3. referred.

  4. refining.

  5. reformation.

  6. reformed.

  7. refund.

  8. refunding.

ref.

1

abbreviation

  1. referee

  2. reference

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ref

2

/ rɛf /

noun

  1. informal,  short for referee

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ref.1

First recorded in 1895–1900; by shortening
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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.

"Tactically, you have to give it up to Canada, the kick game, the ruck game, and they kept the ref out of the game," Tui added.

From BBC

Then VAR instructed the ref to jog over to the pitchside monitor.

From BBC

"As soon as the ref blew I was pretty confident it was going to get overturned," Tarkowski told Sky Sports.

From BBC

The fans want to watch the game, not the refs.

“Just don’t give it any attention. And the refs — I appreciated them too — just like, ‘Hey, let’s go.’

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Related Words

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When To Use

What does ref mean?

Ref is an informal and shortened way of referring to a referee, an official in a sporting event who enforces the rules of the game.In sports, refs 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 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.Ref can be used as a shortened form of referee in these contexts, but it’s much less common than its use in sports.Sometimes, the word is used as an informal way of addressing a referee, as in “Hey, Ref, good call!” said no one ever.  Like referee, ref can be used as a verb meaning to act as a referee, as in I signed up to ref my daughter’s soccer games. Example: I’ve never understood why players argue with refs—have you ever seen one reverse their call? 

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