What does "referendum" mean?

1. (a direct vote) a vote where all citizens can say 'yes' or 'no' to a specific plan or law. 2. (a public judgment) an event or choice that shows what most people think about a leader or a situation.

How do you use "referendum"?

The plural 'referendums' is more common in modern English than the Latin 'referenda'.

referendum

US //ˌɹɛfɝˈɛndəm// UK //ɹˌɛfəɹˈɛndəm// ref·er·en·dum

1 a direct vote (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

a vote where all citizens can say 'yes' or 'no' to a specific plan or law.

a direct and universal vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal. The plural can be either 'referendums' or 'referenda'.

Example

The government decided to hold a referendum to see if people wanted to join the trade union.

Example

The constitutional amendment was eventually ratified following a nationwide referendum that saw a record-breaking turnout of young voters.

Usage

The plural 'referendums' is more common in modern English than the Latin 'referenda'.
2 a public judgment (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Politics

an event or choice that shows what most people think about a leader or a situation.

an event, action, or election result perceived as a collective judgment on a specific person, policy, or performance.

Example

Many people saw the local election as a referendum on the president's new tax plan.

Example

Political analysts interpreted the sudden drop in consumer spending as a silent referendum on the administration's failing economic policies.

Origin

From Latin referendum (“that which ought to be announced”), from refero (“to announce”).