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referent

[ ref-er-uhnt ]
/ ˈrɛf ər ənt /
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See synonyms for referent on Thesaurus.com
noun
the object or event to which a term or symbol refers.
Logic. the first term in a proposition to which succeeding terms relate.
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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
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Origin of referent

1835–45; <Latin referent- (stem of referēns), present participle of referre.See refer, -ent

Words nearby referent

reference frame, reference group, reference mark, reference works, referendum, referent, referential, referral, referred pain, reffo, refi
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to referent

antecedent, denotation, term, thing

How to use referent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for referent

referent
/ (ˈrɛfərənt) /
noun
the object or idea to which a word or phrase refersCompare sense (def. 12)

Word Origin for referent

C19: from Latin referens, from referre to refer
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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