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 in the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Rules Committee questioned why the authority to put a referendum on the ballot is limited to just Mecklenburg County in the bill.
—
Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2025
Under pressure from that community, the government added a provision to the referendum bill that guarantees their treaty rights whatever the result.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
The whole process, Mill argued, would move voting away from a referendum on a community’s values and toward an act of whimsy, like browsing from an array of calico clothes.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Planas said a chartered city like North Miami required a referendum vote for a couple of fundamental reasons.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 June 2025
Under pressure from that community, the government added a provision to the referendum bill that guarantees their treaty rights whatever the result.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
The whole process, Mill argued, would move voting away from a referendum on a community’s values and toward an act of whimsy, like browsing from an array of calico clothes.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Planas said a chartered city like North Miami required a referendum vote for a couple of fundamental reasons.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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The tax and domestic policy bill nearing a vote by Senate Republicans includes hundreds of provisions, including extended and expanded tax cuts and significant cuts to Medicaid, food benefits and other programs.—
Alicia Parlapiano,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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The issue, though, is that the liberals do not have enough votes to override Lamont’s vetoes.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
Noun
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If the issue gets on the 2026 ballot, the $30 wage would be blocked until then (the current large hotel — 60 rooms or over — minimum hourly is $22.50).—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
27 June 2025
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That could include, though not necessarily, putting a countywide sales tax on a future ballot similar to the one that failed in Jackson County last year.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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