referral

[ri-fur-uhl]

noun

1. an act of referring; the state of being referred.

2. an instance of referring.

3. a person recommended to someone or for something.

Word History and Origins

Origin of referral¹

First recorded in 1930–35; refer + -al ²

Example Sentences

The force said a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct by its professional standards department.

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You’ll speak with an agent who can schedule an appointment or provide a referral to a trained, certified counselor in their community.

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The British Association of Social Workers said the social work sector is "under considerable strain", with the highest level of referrals to children's social services in a decade and a depleted workforce.

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Staff had managed 69 medical emergencies and over 360 referrals to other services had been made.

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Early data suggest that AI referrals lead to better purchase rates, and could potentially contribute to shifts in e-commerce market share.

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Related Words

• barometer 
• criterion 
• frame of reference 
• touchstone 
• yardstick