# referendum

/ˌɹɛfɝˈɛndəm/ (US) · /ɹˌɛfəɹˈɛndəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/referendum
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a direct vote

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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'.

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

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

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

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

- Many people saw the local election as a referendum on the president's new tax plan.
- Political analysts interpreted the sudden drop in consumer spending as a silent referendum on the administration's failing economic policies.

## Examples

- The government decided to hold a referendum on the new law.
- After months of public debate, the citizens went to the polls for a national referendum on whether to join the trade union.
- Constitutional experts argue that while a referendum provides a clear mandate, it can also simplify complex geopolitical issues into binary choices that ignore necessary nuance.

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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.