Test Your Vocabulary

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Name That Thing

Take our visual vocab quiz

Test Your Knowledge »

True or False?

A quick quiz about stuff worth knowing

Take It Now »

Join Us on FB & Twitter

Get the Word of the Day and More

Facebook | Twitter
  1. Word Games
  2. Word of the Day
  3. New Words & Slang
  4. Video
 

referent


ref·er·ent

noun \ˈre-f(ə-)rənt\

Definition of REFERENT

: one that refers or is referred to; especially : the thing that a symbol (as a word or sign) stands for
— referent adjective
See referent defined for kids »

Origin of REFERENT

Latin referent-, referens, present participle of referre
First Known Use: 1844

Rhymes with REFERENT

deferent

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: referential
Previous Word in the Dictionary: referendum
All Words Near: referent

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up referent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).