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
Within 50 days of approving such a hike, opponents can gather 5,000 signatures to require a voting referendum.
—
Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
The referendum sought to overturn the council's unanimous approval of updates, whose critics said would chill protest and lead to charitable groups folding.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Ahead of an April 1 public safety referendum that failed, the department listed six employees – three full-time and three part-time.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Republican primaries last year became a referendum on school choice, with out-of-state groups pouring millions into flipping a handful of legislative seats.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
The referendum sought to overturn the council's unanimous approval of updates, whose critics said would chill protest and lead to charitable groups folding.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Ahead of an April 1 public safety referendum that failed, the department listed six employees – three full-time and three part-time.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 24 Sep. 2025
Republican primaries last year became a referendum on school choice, with out-of-state groups pouring millions into flipping a handful of legislative seats.
—Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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But the Democratic leadership is demanding an immediate extension to soon-to-expire Obamacare subsidies for their votes, saying Americans face a sharp rise in health care costs without them.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Last week, the measure failed on its first test in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the record and song of the year categories, several women familiar from recent best new artist contention are likely to return to the ballot.—
Alan Light,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
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Barring any ties, there will be eight artists or tracks nominated in each of these four divisions (versus five for all the down-ballot categories).—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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