reference

1 of 3

noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈre-fərn(t)s 

ˈre-f(ə-)rən(t)s

1

: the act of referring or consulting

2

: a bearing on a matter : relation

in reference to your recent letter

3

: something that refers: such as

a

: allusion, mention

b

: something (such as a sign or indication) that refers a reader or consulter to another source of information (such as a book or passage)

c

: consultation of sources of information

4

: one referred to or consulted: such as

a

: a person to whom inquiries as to character or ability can be made

b

: a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with the person

c(1)

: a source of information (such as a book or passage) to which a reader or consulter is referred

(2)

: a work (such as a dictionary or encyclopedia) containing useful facts or information

d

: denotation, meaning

reference

2 of 3

adjective

: used or usable for reference

especially : constituting a standard for measuring or constructing

reference

3 of 3

verb

referenced; referencing

transitive verb

1

a

: to supply with references

b

: to cite in or as a reference

2

: to put in a form (such as a table) adapted to easy reference

Synonyms

Noun

• authority
• source

Examples of reference in a Sentence

Noun

references to an earlier event

The numbers were calculated by reference to the most recent census.

Reference to a map will make the position clear.

She listed her former teacher as a reference when she applied for the job.

Her former teacher gave her a reference when she applied for the job.

Her teacher gave her a letter of reference.

Adjective

a list of reference materials

Verb

The book references many other authors who have written on this topic.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For reference, 4 ounces of lobster has about 160 mg of cholesterol and 1 egg has 187 mg of cholesterol. —Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

Midfielder Oday Kharoub, draped in a Palestinian flag, pointed to the number 110 scrawled in red on his forearm, a reference to the number of days since Israel began its assault on Gaza after Hamas’ attacks on October 7. —Eoin McSweeney, CNN, 29 Jan. 2024

United added two other flights for its 49ers fans, one with the number 1995 — the year of the team won its last championship — and one with 1849 — a reference to the year in the 49ers name, when tens of thousands of gold miners rushed to California. —Christopher Brito, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2024

The show also can’t resist underlining all the references, just in case the audience doesn’t recognize them. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Jan. 2024

Fallon’s Gibb even managed to throw in a reference about the 2023 black comedy Saltuburn. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2024

This sounds to me, Isaac, like a reference to the Chris Van Hollen amendment, for all of the aid to be utilized in accordance with international law. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2024

That’s a reference to his basketball potential and certainly not his hat size. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024

Finally Tesla made no explicit reference in its outlook to the long-term target of 50% annual average vehicle sales growth for the first time in 12 straight quarters. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2024

Adjective

The gallery’s wall configuration, which has been fixed for quite some time, has now been opened up in refreshingly spacious ways that allow a viewer to visually cross-reference paintings. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2022

This is despite progress; many country national climate action plans now cross-reference gender, and country delegations include more women. —Catherine McKenna, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2022

Some problems occurred because the system didn’t properly cross-reference country codes used on a money-laundering watchlist with the country codes used to process wire transfers, the SEC said. —Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 20 May 2022

State officials regularly cross-reference voting records with BMV records, which list someone’s citizenship status on their driver’s license. —Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 12 July 2021

This process sees them cross-reference lists of the dead from the Washington Department of Health and the Social Security Administration. —Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2020

The access could help OFAC cross-reference information with other investigators, including those in the U.S. intelligence community, said Mr. Lorber, a former senior adviser to the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. —Jack Hagel, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2020

Verb

The fragrance’s name, according to Interview Magazine, referenced the electric guitar pedal that holds a note before fading out. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2024

Street artist Shepard Fairy added to the Mile last year with a mural referencing Rock Hill’s industrial history, its Freedom Riders and more. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

People often reference Eisenhower to argue against greater defense spending. —Dominic Pino, National Review, 30 Jan. 2024

Suit names reference Cozumel, Laguna, Amazon, Mexico. —Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

Don’t be surprised if the opening lyrics referencing South Detroit are changed to San Francisco at the home crowd’s delight. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2024

Pérez referenced the legal analysis developed last year by UCLA scholars that says there is no federal law prohibiting the UC from hiring undocumented students. —Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2024

Afterward, players referenced Spagnuolo’s multiple halftime adjustments, including changing the Chiefs’ pass-rush lanes to limit quarterback Josh Allen’s scrambles. —Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2024

Olmedo also referenced the divorce proceedings between Masterson and Bijou Phillips, who filed for divorce less than two weeks after the actor was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of two counts of forcible rape. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024

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Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1856, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reference

• for future reference
• cross-reference
• frame of reference
• terms of reference
• reference point
• with reference to
• point of reference
• make reference to
• self-reference
• in reference to
• reference mark
• reference library

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• for future reference
• cross-reference
• frame of reference
• terms of reference
• reference point
• with reference to
• point of reference
• make reference to
• self-reference
• in reference to
• reference mark
• reference library

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Kids Definition

reference

1 of 2 noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈref-ərn(t)s 

ˈref-(ə-)rən(t)s

1

: the act of referring

2

: a relation to or concern with something : respect

with reference to what was said

3

a

: a remark referring to something : allusion

made reference to our agreement

b

: a sign or indication referring a reader to another book or portion of a written work

c

: use as sources of information

volumes for ready reference

4

a

: a person to whom questions as to another person's honesty or ability can be addressed

b

: a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with them

c

: a book, document, or portion of a written work to which a reader is referred

reference

2 of 2 adjective

: used or usable for reference

a reference point

Medical Definition

reference

1 of 2 adjective

ref·​er·​ence ˈref-(ə-)rən(t)s 

: of known potency and used as a standard in the biological assay of a sample of the same drug of unknown strength

a dose of reference cod-liver oil

reference

2 of 2

see idea of reference

Legal Definition

reference

noun

ref·​er·​ence ˈre-frəns, -fə-rəns 

1

: an act of referring

specifically : mention or citation of one document (as a statute) in another

a municipality may adopt by reference all or a part of this title

—Alaska Statutes

see also incorporate

2

: a referral especially to a legislative committee or master

also : an order referring a matter to a master

the extent to which any party is more responsible than other parties for the reference to a master

—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 53(g)