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

Others end up with referrals to other organizations who will take on their case for the long term. —Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

Slowly, thanks to the support of friends and colleagues—through direct financial support and referrals and introductions—Freud did make his private practice viable. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026

Blanche also suggested the new division would be open to accepting criminal referrals from the White House — a departure from prior norms instituted after the Watergate scandal, which sought to insulate criminal investigations from political influence. —Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026

But — in a sign of just how many ethics investigations have piled up — Mace is facing her own probe based on a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct. —Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 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
• sural

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