variants
or referendums
as in votes
an event in which the electorate votes for or against a law that deals with a specific issue
They are having a referendum so the public can decide the controversial issue.
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Recent Examples of referenda
Voters in Hialeah, Homestead, Miami, Miami Beach and Surfside all had candidates and referendums on the ballot.
—
Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Some polling locations across Indiana will be open to allow Hoosiers to vote on school referendums.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
Del Toro, perpetually attuned to the minutiae of process, turns the sinewy logistics of reanimation into a series of referendums on Victor’s humanity.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025
The passage of the referendums, whether both are approved or just one, will determine if the program reaches solvency, continues to limp along or must be significantly curtailed.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Last year, voters in nine states approved referendums to cap or curb rising assessments, from tying bills to inflation in Georgia and New Mexico to expanding tax exemptions in Colorado.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
In Wisconsin, school districts are increasingly turning to referendums to address budget shortfalls and prevent cuts to staffing and programs.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Some polling locations across Indiana will be open to allow Hoosiers to vote on school referendums.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 4 Nov. 2025
Del Toro, perpetually attuned to the minutiae of process, turns the sinewy logistics of reanimation into a series of referendums on Victor’s humanity.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2025
The passage of the referendums, whether both are approved or just one, will determine if the program reaches solvency, continues to limp along or must be significantly curtailed.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Last year, voters in nine states approved referendums to cap or curb rising assessments, from tying bills to inflation in Georgia and New Mexico to expanding tax exemptions in Colorado.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
In Wisconsin, school districts are increasingly turning to referendums to address budget shortfalls and prevent cuts to staffing and programs.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referenda
Noun
-
The death penalty bill, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, passed its first reading by 39 votes to 16.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The bill, supported by numerous Democratic senators alongside Republicans, secured enough votes for passage, sending the legislation to the House.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
With about 90% of ballots counted, California voters passed Proposition 50 by a wide margin, but results from the Sacramento region reflect a community split on the measure.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In California, 79 percent of voters under 30 cast ballots in favor of Proposition 50.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referenda.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referenda. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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