referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

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

Over the 2025 holiday shopping season, AI referrals led to higher conversion rates than traditional channels. — Firdosh Tangri, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Smile Dental Services will provide dental exams, varnish treatments, sealants, oral health education and referrals for more services to county residents younger than 20. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

The company’s growth has come from referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Criminal charges from contempt of Congress referrals are rare. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing referral

• self-referral

Rhymes for referral

• deferral
• epidural
• postdoctoral
• predoctoral
• neral
• squirrel

Kids Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

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 

: the act or an instance of referring

appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee