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
After Russian forces took over Crimea, the Kremlin staged a referendum to legitimize the land grab.
—
Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
The referendum organized by island residents seeks to override McIntosh County commissioners' 2023 decision to double the size of homes allowed in the tiny Hogg Hummock community.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Therefore, any alteration in status must initiate from the Greenlanders themselves opting for independence through a referendum.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Selling Greenland to the United States would likely require a referendum.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
The referendum organized by island residents seeks to override McIntosh County commissioners' 2023 decision to double the size of homes allowed in the tiny Hogg Hummock community.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Therefore, any alteration in status must initiate from the Greenlanders themselves opting for independence through a referendum.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Selling Greenland to the United States would likely require a referendum.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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Osborne’s hope of turning London into a European clearinghouse for the yuan was dented by Britain’s vote in 2016 to leave the European Union.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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Mark Kuisle, a former athletic director of Rochester Century High School as well as a former president of MSHSL, previously said the League had been discussing the issue for multiple years leading up to that 2014 vote.—
Jordan Shearer,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gabbard was photographed in Fulton County on the day of the raid as the FBI seized 2020 election ballots.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
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The eight-time Super Bowl champion coach’s snub, which ESPN first reported, also sparked speculation over which media members decided not to vote for him on the first ballot.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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