Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
However, neither bill has advanced beyond committee referral, meaning they are unlikely to pass under the current Congress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The remaining amount is allocated across programs for "awareness and prevention," "screening and assessment," "referral, linkage, and coordination," implementation and evaluation.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
He told BBC Radio 4's World At One programme that the "online world" has become "massive factor in what we see in these referral statistics".
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
“He is a loyal client and a great referral source for me,” the financial adviser wrote in one email.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
At the grimy state offices on 54th Street I was given a referral to Friedsam Coats.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
The Home Office said the Southport attacks may have also led to a 117% increase in referrals discussed at a Channel panel, rising from 997 to 2,159.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
His local area agency on aging, which can be located through the Eldercare Locator, will provide free information, application assistance and referrals to community services.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
Doctors shouldn’t be compensated based on their referrals, for instance, CMS says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Graduates themselves ranked personal referrals and internship experience as more decisive in securing employment than the degree itself.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
With this class, though, she’s probably going to have a fatter stack of referrals.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
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.
