as in vote
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 referendum
Some observers described the outcome as a referendum on city leadership.
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Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Mecklenburg County’s sales tax rate is also scheduled to increase July 1 following the passage of a referendum in November to fund road, rail and bus projects.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
At its core, the race became a referendum on two competing visions of authority, each tied to leaders accused of undermining democratic institutions.
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Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
The district’s Tuesday press conference also focused on the importance of the one-mill tax referendum on November’s general election ballot.
—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Mecklenburg County’s sales tax rate is also scheduled to increase July 1 following the passage of a referendum in November to fund road, rail and bus projects.
—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
At its core, the race became a referendum on two competing visions of authority, each tied to leaders accused of undermining democratic institutions.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
The district’s Tuesday press conference also focused on the importance of the one-mill tax referendum on November’s general election ballot.
—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani leads the NL in votes received, which would give him the automatic starting spot at DH should that lead hold into Thursday, knocking Schmitt out of contention.
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Two of the three races, where Avila Chevalier and Valdez are running, are in heavily Latino enclaves, where older votes may lean more conservative and younger ones are further to the left.
Noun
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Several countermeasures aimed at overturning or weakening the billionaire tax have also made the November ballot.
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Six other Dodgers were finalists through the fan ballot, giving them a chance to claim starting spots in Phase 2 of voting.
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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