referendum Definition
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision..
Using referendum: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "referendum" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The government called for a referendum on the issue of EU membership.
Example
The Scottish independence referendum was held in 2014.
Example
The referendum resulted in a narrow victory for the 'leave' campaign.
referendum Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for referendum
Phrases with referendum
a second vote on a previously rejected proposal or issue
Example
There are calls for a second referendum on Brexit.
a referendum on whether a region or territory should become an independent sovereign state
Example
The Catalan independence referendum was held in 2017.
a referendum on changes to a country's constitution
Example
The Italian constitutional referendum was held in 2016.
Origins of referendum
from Latin 'referendum', meaning 'thing to be referred'
Summary: referendum in Brief
A 'referendum' [ˌrefəˈrendəm] is a direct vote by the electorate on a single political question. It is used to decide on important issues such as EU membership, Scottish independence, and constitutional changes. Phrases like 'second referendum' and 'independence referendum' are common. 'Referendum' is a formal term synonymous with 'plebiscite' and 'ballot.'
