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 Department of Homeland Security was subsequently directed in December to make as many as 200 referrals for potential denaturalization. —Sophie Brams, The Hill, 8 May 2026

Polymarket’s referral to the Justice Department of a US soldier who allegedly bet on the Maduro raid (and Kalshi’s preventing him from creating an account in the first place) is a good sign. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 7 May 2026

Councilmember Jose Preciado, who introduced a separate, narrower referral focused on venue selection and overall event costs, said his concern was less about the politics and more about transparency and process. —Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Investigators alleged that process has been mired in delays and denials, even when ACS itself made the referral and is cooperating with the probe. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 6 May 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