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referee 1 of 2

noun

ˌre-fə-ˈrē How to pronounce referee (audio)
Definition of refereenext
as in umpire
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy served as the unofficial referee in disputes over the family business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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referee

2 of 2

verb

as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) their father usually ends up refereeing any disputes concerning use of the big TV

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of referee
Noun
The deranged belief that NFL referees assist the Chiefs would have fueled outrage on social media had the Chiefs won in that manner. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 The referees called a play dead over an inadvertent whistle that set up another third-down play. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
Barton officiated the France-Spain match, while American Ismail Elfath refereed the England-Argentina match. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 Once the contest was underway, Perrin began livestreaming on Instagram while simultaneously refereeing the matches, making her the organizer, referee and camera operator all at once. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for referee
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referee
  1. umpire
  2. decide
  3. judge
  4. settle
  5. determine
  6. adjudicate
  7. arbitrate
Noun
  • Well, things got testy as Shelton complained to the chair umpire about Zverev’s antics ahead of his serves.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2026
  • The umpire sent base runners back to their initial bases, but Heights coaches disagreed and argued that the runners should advance.
    — Emily Ohman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of umpire
Verb
  • Let the real issue become visible before deciding what changes.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • When the time came to renew the lease for the ghost kitchen, the brothers decided instead to sign on with a broker and go brick and mortar.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of decide
Noun
  • Gianmarco does live up to his Simon Cowell role as the panel’s resident skeptic, though Kumail is also an exacting judge, repeatedly grilling or scoffing at the players and even fact-checking them.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That usually means an immigration judge has ordered their removal after a hearing, including cases when immigrants fail to show up, and the decision was affirmed on appeal or not appealed.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of judge
Verb
  • Let enthusiasm show you what deserves more energy after the excitement settles.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The dinner capped a long, but friendly, day of meetings and celebrations, as the world’s two most powerful leaders seek to settle trade differences while simultaneously thawing the icy relationship between the United States and China.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • The vote will determine the next prime minister and the makeup of the government, which will serve alongside a powerful monarchy that retains broad authority over strategic affairs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Organizations have compared benchmark scores, reasoning capabilities and response quality to determine which AI model is smartest.
    — Samir Dutta, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of determine
Verb
  • The lawsuits Hoekstra has filed lean on a similar legal theory to the landmark social media case that was adjudicated in California in March, on which her firm assisted.
    — Jake Rosenwasser, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The events recreate Ireland’s own experience with the actor Scott Shepherd in 2012, an act that was messily adjudicated before MeToo, and which, as of Pre-Existing Condition, is still a raw thing.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of adjudicate
Verb
  • Even at the height of Jewish segregation, Jews might work in partnership with Christians, call on Christians to arbitrate in disputes, or be welcomed into Christian homes as friends.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In each instance, once parties have agreed to arbitrate, a court may confirm and enforce the resulting arbitration award, subject to limited grounds for setting it aside.
    — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of arbitrate

Browse Nearby Words

refer
referee
refereed
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Cite this Entry

“Referee.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referee. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on referee

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about referee

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