Etymology
Origin of referral
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.
Vocabulary lists containing referral
"Efrén Divided" by Ernesto Cisneros, Chapters 1–5
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Half a World Away
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for December 17–December 23, 2022
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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.
It said it had a "comprehensive gambling clinical pathway", including assessment, support and referral to specialist NHS services, as well as welfare and pastoral support.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The system will allow merchants to retain ownership of customer relationships and data, and receive ChatGPT referral attribution in their admin.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Scotland aims for 90% of patients to be treated within 18 weeks of referral, but Public Health Scotland has stopped publishing data on this target.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
The bar says Yaghoubtil repeatedly asked for a referral fee from a woman injured in a Michigan drugstore after she dropped the firm for allegedly taking too long to file her lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
She was given a referral to a therapist.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
