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

The big question for medical professionals is WHY there is this rise in referral. — Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

The multi-pronged initiative would hinge on the creation of a hospital referral program that would connect medical institutions with museums. — News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2026

So the most likely next step, sometime in August, is a referral for an official hearing about whether to renew ABC’s station licenses. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

City officials began notifying vehicle owners about the closure and included referrals to social service resources. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing referral

• self-referral

Rhymes for referral

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

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