referee

noun ref·er·ee \ ˌre-fə-ˈrē \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Definition of referee

1 : one to whom a thing is referred: such as

a : a person to whom a legal matter is referred for investigation and report or for settlement

b : a person who reviews a paper and especially a technical paper and recommends that it should or should not be published

c chiefly British : reference 4a

2 : a sports official usually having final authority in administering a game

See referee defined for English-language learners

See referee defined for kids

Examples of referee in a Sentence

served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business

Recent Examples of referee from the Web

Family disputes are often settled with a fight, ideally a fair one-on-one with a referee and no weapons.

— The Economist, "A British traveller’s travelogue," 12 July 2018
He was given a penalty try in the 78th minute—only for it to be taken away by a video-assistant referee, showing that Neymar had oversold the contact.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "Brazil Lives Up to Its Reputation, Tops Costa Rica at World Cup," 22 June 2018
At first a goal wasn't given, but then allowed after consultation between the referee and linesman.

— motez bishara, CNN, "World Cup: Is Russia 2018 the last chance for Messi and Ronaldo?," 13 June 2018
For me, this team and this club get absolutely zero respect from referees.

— mike bianchi, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando City coach Jason Kreis needs to start winning, stop whining," 12 June 2018
The Nats whined incessantly to referees and their style was straight out of the 1940s.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "The 'contest' that won the 76ers their name | Frank's Place," 11 May 2018
Austin, who has a doctorate from UNCG, was an NFL referee from 1982 to 2007 and has appeared on ESPN to interpret rules during NFL broadcasts...

— matthew glenesk, Indianapolis Star, "IndyStar 2018 NCAA tournament celebrity alumni bracket," 12 Mar. 2018
Burton’s basket followed an inbounding violation by Magic shooting guard Rodney Purvis in which referees said Purvis moved on the sideline.

— josh robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Shorthanded Magic lose summer league finale to Thunder 87-85," 14 July 2018
Werner Helsen pictured during a training session for referees of the Belgian Soccer Union.

— andrew beaton, WSJ, "The Professor Who Helped Make Belgian Soccer a World Power," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'referee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of referee

1549

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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referee Synonyms

Synonyms

adjudicator, arbiter, arbitrator, judge, umpire;

Related Words

jurist, justice, magistrate;

intermediary, intermediate, mediator, moderator, negotiator;

conciliator, go-between, peacemaker, reconciler, troubleshooter;

decider;

Other Publishing Terms

annotate, dreadful, emend, expurgate, factoid, jump, lobster shift, redaction

referee

verb

Definition of referee

refereed; refereeing

transitive verb

1 : to conduct (a match or game) as referee

2 a : to arbitrate (something, such as a legal matter) as a judge or third party

b : to review (something, such as a technical paper) before publication

intransitive verb

: to act as a referee

See referee defined for English-language learners

Examples of referee in a Sentence

She refereed the basketball game.
He has refereed for several years now.

Recent Examples of referee from the Web

Pitana, a former actor who has already refereed four games including the tournament opener between host nation Russia and Saudi Arabia and France's quarter-final win over Uruguay, will take charge of Sunday's showpiece at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

— afp, chicagotribune.com, "Argentine referee Pitana to officiate Sunday's World Cup final," 12 July 2018
The state water board, which referees California's complicated water-rights system, also is in charge of policing the quality of the water that goes through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — the ailing hub of the state's water delivery system.

— dale kasler, sacbee, "California has a new plan for allocating its water, and it means less for farmers," 6 July 2018
Victor Oladipo still isn’t over the goaltending call that referees missed in the Cavaliers’ first-round Game 5 win over the Pacers in the NBA playoffs back in April.

— alysha tsuji, For The Win, "Victor Oladipo says he’ll never get over LeBron’s uncalled goaltending in playoffs," 5 July 2018
Massimo Busacca, head of refereeing for FIFA said during a press conference.

— kaitlyn schallhorn, Fox News, "World Cup to use VAR technology for first time: What is it?," 13 June 2018
At the time, the organization’s personnel was so threadbare that Mr. Blind himself had to pump the balls, referee some games and escort injured players to hospital.

— New York Times, "In Alternative World Cup for Would-be Nations, Karpatalya Beats North Cyprus," 9 June 2018
Portugal was in first and Spain in second, but in second-half injury time referees upheld a Spanish goal and retroactively granted an Iranian PK after VAR reviews.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Winners, losers, trends and lessons from the World Cup's first round," 28 June 2018
Geiger refereed the final of the 2011 Under-20 World Cup, earning a spot in the big World Cup three years later.

— ronald blum, Houston Chronicle, "El Paso native 1 of 2 US referees at World Cup," 15 June 2018
But while the block-charge call ultimately was correct, how referees got there remains a point of contention for the Cavaliers and other NBA followers.

— jeff zillgitt, USA TODAY, "NBA's Last Two-Minute report: Draymond Green committed lane violation on George Hill FT," 1 June 2018

First Known Use of referee

1883

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

referee Synonyms

Synonyms

adjudge, adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, judge, rule (on), settle, umpire;

Near Antonyms

equivocate, hedge, pussyfoot, skirt;

size up;

mediate, moderate, negotiate;

prosecute, try;

find (for or against);

conclude, resolve;

REFEREE Defined for English Language Learners

referee

noun

Definition of referee for English Language Learners

: a person who makes sure that players act according to the rules of a game or sport

referee

verb

Definition of referee for English Language Learners

sports : to act as a referee in (a game or sport)

REFEREE Defined for Kids

referee

noun ref·er·ee \ ˌre-fə-ˈrē \

Definition of referee for Students

1 : a sports official with final authority for conducting a game

2 : a person who is asked to settle a disagreement

referee

verb

Definition of referee for Students

refereed; refereeing

: to act or be in charge of as referee

I referee basketball games.

Law Dictionary

referee

noun ref·er·ee \ ˌre-fə-ˈrē \

legal Definition of referee

: an officer appointed by a court or quasi-judicial body (as a workers' compensation board) to investigate a case, report findings, and often to make orders subject to review