referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

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

Other patient populations may be more litigious than those served by the clinic, which could pressure providers to order extra tests and unnecessary referrals. —Helen Ouyang, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025

Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. —Jay Cannon, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

The church must walk beside survivors through prayer, listening, and referral to professional care, respecting each woman’s pace toward wholeness. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Last month, an organization representing some of the world’s largest publishers, Digital Content Next (DCN), found that median year-over-year referral traffic from Google Search was down 10% in May and June 2025. —PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing referral

• self-referral

Rhymes for referral

• deferral
• epidural
• postdoctoral
• predoctoral
• neral
• squirrel
• sural

Kids Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

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 

: the act or an instance of referring

appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee