ref

1 of 2

noun

ˈref 

: a referee in a game or sport

ref

2 of 2

abbreviation

1

reference

2

refunding

Examples of ref in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In reality, the refs just do the bidding of the cowards behind the curtain. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026

Garbrandt didn’t really complain after Dean’s decision, and that’s a major indicator of the validity of the ref’s decision. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026

Maybe that means hiring full-time refs and paying them a living wage. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

This is what makes Trump’s phone call so much worse than the ref’s bad call. — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ref

• chef
• clef
• deaf

Kids Definition

ref

noun

ˈref

: referee entry 1 sense 2