referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Amazon also partnered with major health systems, including the Cleveland Clinic and Rush University System for Health, to create smoother referrals between primary care and specialists. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026 Late last year, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk signed on to the president's TrumpRx, a cash-pay referral site that the White House launched last month. Christopher Rowland The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026 Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 The announcement triggered a surge of interest among parents seeking the medication, with social media groups popping up with tens of thousands of members sharing doctors' referrals and notes. Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for referral

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of referral was circa 1790

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Referral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/referral. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

referral

noun
re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun
re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl How to pronounce referral (audio)
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 How to pronounce referral (audio)
: the act or an instance of referring
appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee

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