ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ref

n.
US //ˈɹɛf// UK //ɹˈɛf// ref
  1. 1 sports official (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Sport

    a short name for a referee, the person who makes sure players follow the rules in a game.

    an informal clipping of 'referee', denoting the official who presides over a sporting match.

    Example

    The ref blew his whistle and gave the player a yellow card.

    Example

    The home crowd began booing the ref after a series of controversial decisions in the final minutes of the second half.

    Usage

    Commonly used in speech and sports journalism but less frequent in formal rulebooks.
  2. 2 a reference (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a short way to write the word 'reference', often used in documents or emails.

    an abbreviation for 'reference', typically used in administrative, legal, or academic documentation to point to a source or file.

    Example

    Please include the job ref number at the top of your application letter.

    Example

    The legal clerk noted the case ref in the margin to ensure the documents could be cross-referenced during the hearing.

    Usage

    Often followed by a colon and a serial number or code.
  3. 3 a refrigerator (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Dialect

    a short way to say 'refrigerator' or 'fridge', mostly used in the Philippines.

    a regional clipping of 'refrigerator' used in Philippine English.

    Example

    Don't forget to put the milk back in the ref so it stays cold.

    Example

    The technician arrived to repair the ref, noting that the compressor had failed due to a power surge.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is specific to the Philippines; in most other English-speaking regions, 'fridge' is the standard informal term.
Origin

Clippings.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated June 20, 2026