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

According to the attorneys' letter, the criminal referrals relate to properties Cook owns in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts. —ABC News, 17 Nov. 2025

The letter to Bondi was the first comprehensive response to a criminal referral in August by Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. —Christopher Rugaber, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2025

Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. —Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 14 Nov. 2025

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
• 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