referendum

American  

[ref-uh-ren-duhm] / ˌrɛf əˈrɛn dəm /

noun

• referendums,
  plural
• referenda
  plural

1. 

   the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body, head of state, etc., to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection.

2. a measure thus referred.

3. a vote on such a measure.

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referendum British  

/ ˌrɛfəˈrɛndəm /

noun

1. submission of an issue of public importance to the direct vote of the electorate

2. a vote on such a measure

3. a poll of the members of a club, union, or other group to determine their views on some matter

4. a diplomatic official's note to his government requesting instructions

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referendum ¹ Cultural  

1. A vote by the general public, rather than by governmental bodies, on a bill or some other important issue; a plebiscite. (See under “American Politics.”)

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referendum ² Cultural  

1. A direct popular vote on an issue of public policy, such as a proposed amendment to a state constitution or a proposed law. Referendums, which allow the general population to participate in policymaking, are not used at the national level, but are common at the state and local levels. A referendum is often used to gauge popular approval or rejection of laws recently passed or under consideration by a state legislature. A referendum can also be used to initiate legislative action.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• referenda
  plural
• referendums
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of referendum

1840–50; < Latin: “(thing) to be referred” (neuter gerundive of referre “to bring back”; see refer)

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Explanation

A referendum is a direct vote by the people on a specific proposal, law, or political issue. It's often part of a larger election. On many issues, our elected representatives argue, negotiate, and make a law, but sometimes there's a referendum — the issue is put directly to the people for a vote as part of an election. Usually, a referendum is a yes or no question. Smaller groups can have referendums, too — like a school system deciding whether or not to have school uniforms or a longer school year.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

referendum referenda referendums

Some of this has fed through into a better performing currency, with sterling at its highest level since the Brexit referendum, when measured against a basket of currencies.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

Any large-scale project on the former General Motors site must now be approved by referendum.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

If the current batch of counties approves the referendum, that would make 44 out of 102 Illinois counties ready to split.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Johnson had prosecuted graft and civic corruption in San Francisco, and his progressive reforms gave California voters some of the very tools your ballot offers you today: the initiative, recall, referendum, and women’s suffrage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

He stated that if the referendum was defeated, he would resign from office.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

State referenda can be difficult to poll, but surveys say Maine on Tuesday might have a couple of squeakers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2025

Berlin, Hamburg and the Ruhr region are also developing bids, with referenda to be held in 2026.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2025

The law also forbids local communities from putting advisory referenda questions on the ballot, except those related to certain projects that would be funded with property tax money.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 2023

Among the hundreds of referenda passed across the country in the midterm elections, voters in four states approved provisions making slavery and involuntary servitude unconstitutional.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 30, 2022

In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway   rejected joining the EU.

From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Those state-by-state questions—some referendums, directed to voters by state legislatures, others initiatives, put forward by citizens themselves—offer a fascinating look at trends, as well as attitudes toward specific issues.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

For example, 929,000 votes were cast in the 2022 mayoral general election — meaning referendums need about 93,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Public policy should provide honest information and good options, not turn parents’ choices into moral referendums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Both issues could be the subjects of early referendums if he is elected next year.

From BBC ● May 22, 2026

On the ballot in November 1867, the men in Kansas faced two referendums, one that deleted the word “white” from the description of voters and a second that deleted the word “male.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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Related Words

• election
• poll
• vote

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