# reference

/ˈɹɛfɝəns/ (US) · /ɹˈɛfɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reference
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. mentioning something

noun · CEFR B1

the act of mentioning something or someone in speech or writing.

For teachers: the act of mentioning or alluding to something. Often used with the preposition 'to'.

- The speaker made a quick reference to the new law during her presentation.
- The author made several subtle references to local history that only long-term residents of the town would truly appreciate.

### 2. academic source

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a note in a book that tells you where a piece of information came from.

For teachers: a citation or note in a text that identifies a source of information or a previously published work.

- You must include a list of references at the end of your essay.
- The professor insisted that every factual claim be supported by a primary source reference to ensure academic integrity.

### 3. job testimonial

noun · CEFR B1

a letter written by someone who knows you, describing your skills to a new employer.

For teachers: a formal statement or letter provided by a referee regarding a person's character, skills, or previous work performance.

- My old manager agreed to write a positive reference for my new job application.
- The recruitment agency contacted three professional references to verify the candidate's experience before making a final offer.

### 4. for information

noun · CEFR B1

something used to find facts, like a dictionary or a map.

For teachers: a source of information used for consultation, such as a dictionary or encyclopedia. Often used as an attributive noun.

- Keep this manual nearby for easy reference while you build the desk.
- The library keeps its most valuable reference books in a separate room where they cannot be borrowed.

### 5. computing pointer

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of data that tells a computer where to find other information.

For teachers: an object or value that refers to data stored elsewhere in memory rather than containing the data itself.

- The program crashed because it tried to access a reference that no longer existed.
- Passing a large object by reference is generally more efficient than passing it by value, as it avoids unnecessary data copying.

### 6. to cite or mention

verb · CEFR B2

to mention something or list it as a source.

For teachers: to provide a list of references for a text or to cite a specific source. Sometimes used as a synonym for 'refer to'.

- The report references several studies conducted over the last ten years.
- The article extensively references recent breakthroughs in quantum computing to support its predictions about future encryption.

## Examples

- Please include a list of references with your job application.
- The author makes a brief reference to his childhood in the first chapter of the book.
- The researcher provided a comprehensive list of references to support her claims, ensuring that every data point could be verified through primary sources.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.