referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
1
: the act, action, or an instance of referring
gave the patient a referral to a specialist
2
: one that is referred

Examples of referral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 The program was able to address 854 of those requests through a referral, providing information or resources, or was in the process of working through the case. Ellie Silverman, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 That might translate to longer wait times for appointments, bureaucratic red tape or difficulty getting referrals and access to specialists, and more. Pamela Appea, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Some providers competed to recruit caregivers, advertising online and offering $1,500 or more as signing bonuses, and hundreds of dollars for referrals. Ted Alcorn Kaiti Sullivan, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The shelter will prioritize those experiencing homelessness in the vicinity and require a referral for those intending to use the site, meaning no walk-up service. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 That number fell to just seven referrals in 2021, of which five were rejected, according to the latest available BOI annual report. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024 For example, the Tell a Friend offer gives you 200% of your friend’s first deposit up to $100, and an extra $25 for referrals who deposit with Bitcoin. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Real estate professionals and companies that leverage technology will be able to make life easier for their clients—and in turn, those clients will be more likely to send along referrals. Jesse Sasomsup, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'referral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of referral was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near referral

Cite this Entry

“Referral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/referral. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

referral

noun
re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun
re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
1
: the process of directing or redirecting (as a medical case or a patient) to an appropriate specialist or agency for definitive treatment
2
: an individual that is referred

Legal Definition

referral

noun
re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
: the act or an instance of referring
appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee

More from Merriam-Webster on referral

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