Definition of referendum
referenda
play \-də\ orreferendums
1a : the principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiativeb : a vote on a measure so submitted
2 : a diplomatic agent's note asking for government instructions
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Examples of referendum in a Sentence
The issue was decided by referendum.
Recent Examples of referendum from the Web
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Mayor Patrick McGrady, meanwhile, is trying to bring the amendment to referendum, saying the voters should be the ones who decide if the charter gets changed, not the city council.
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To that end, village officials had to ask residents via a referendum for a property tax increase in order to stave off a looming budget deficit.
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County Manager Dena Diorio recommended commissioners place a bond referendum for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on the November ballot, which, if approved by voters, would generate $937 million.
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The June 8 election pits May, the Conservative Party leader who opposed Brexit before the referendum last June but now favors it, against Corbyn, who has alienated many longtime Labour supporters with his hard-left views.
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May, who began the campaign cautioning voters that polls have been wrong before in 2015 and at the Brexit referendum, was flying from a NATO meeting in Brussels to the Group of Seven summit in Sicily when a poll in the Times newspaper dropped.
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O’Rourke helped push for the referendum last year that caused the change of plans for the property at 552 E. Palmetto Park Road.
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Overnight, what many viewed, correctly or not, as a referendum on President Trump became instead a kind of inkblot test on attitudes toward the news media.
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Even before its ugly conclusion, the race in Montana, a state that has long mixed conservatism with populism, had evolved into an early referendum on Mr. Trump and the Republican health care bill.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'referendum'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Referendum is a Latin word, but its modern meaning only dates from the 19th century, when a new constitution adopted by Switzerland stated that the voters could vote directly on certain issues. Thus, a referendum is a measure that's referred (that is, sent on) to the people. Since the U.S. Constitution doesn't provide for referenda (notice the common plural form) at the national level, referenda tend to be on local and state issues. In most locales, a few questions usually appear on the ballot at election time, often involving such issues as new zoning ordinances, new taxes for schools, and new limits on spending.
Origin and Etymology of referendum
New Latin, from Latin, neuter of referendus, gerundive of referre to refer
First Known Use: 1847
Other Government and Politics Terms
REFERENDUM Defined for English Language Learners
referendum
playDefinition of referendum for English Language Learners
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: an event in which the people of a county, state, etc., vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue : a public vote on a particular issue
REFERENDUM Defined for Kids
referendum
playDefinition of referendum for Students
referenda
\-də\ orreferendums
: the practice of voting on an issue
Law Dictionary
Origin and Etymology of referendum
New Latin, from Latin, neuter of referendus, gerundive of referre to refer
Learn More about referendum
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See words that rhyme with referendum Spanish Central: Translation of referendum Nglish: Translation of referendum for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of referendum for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about referendum
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