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

Etymology

Origin of referendum

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

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

Paris abolished them after a referendum in 2023.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

They'll have the challenge of winning over people like Justin Perkins, who spoke to the BBC about his thoughts on the referendum while fuelling his car in rural Alberta.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

But when French President Emmanuel Macron announced the loan almost exactly a year ago, he brushed aside the warnings to celebrate Franco-British relations, 10 years after the bitter Brexit referendum.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Farage, who helped persuade Britons to vote to leave the EU during a divisive referendum in 2016, was elected an MP on his eighth attempt during the July 2024 general election.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026

Of about 612,000 women who were eligible to vote in the referendum, only about 7 percent registered and only about 4 percent voted.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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

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

Referenda, including de facto referenda at a UK General Election, are won with a majority of votes.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2022

These two referenda virtually settled the question in New York, though for a time a compromise was adopted.

From The History of Education; educational practice and progress considered as a phase of the development and spread of western civilization by Cubberley, Ellwood Patterson

According to the Washington Policy Center, the Washington Legislature Bill Drafting Guide says that a “necessity clause” or “emergency clause” protects legislation against voter referendums.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

Speaking of referendums, how about one to eliminate the State of the Union?

From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2026

Maria Steen is a barrister and campaigner on social issues, who opposed the legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion during referendums in the last decade.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2025

I think that deliberation, whether spread broadly in the schools or spread broadly before national elections, before referendums, before initiatives, could become part of everyday life.

From Salon ● Jun. 14, 2025

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

Related Words

• election
• poll
• vote