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idea of reference

noun

: a delusion that the remarks one overhears and people one encounters seem to be concerned with and usually hostile to oneself

called also delusion of reference

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Cite this Entry

“Idea of reference.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/idea%20of%20reference. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.

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