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
Marek said Arrowhead's previous referendums relied on flawed assumptions.
—
Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum.
—Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The amendment would need to be approved by referendum in an April 21 special election.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
If Democrats get to carry out a referendum, voters will choose whether to temporarily adopt new congressional districts and then return to Virginia's standard process after the 2030 census.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 27 Feb. 2026
Council members have long chafed at their exclusion from an intergovernmental agreement between the city and MARTA that dictates how decisions are made within the More MARTA program established by voters in a 2016 referendum.
—Sara Gregory, AJC.com, 26 Feb. 2026
The amendment would need to be approved by referendum in an April 21 special election.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
If Democrats get to carry out a referendum, voters will choose whether to temporarily adopt new congressional districts and then return to Virginia's standard process after the 2030 census.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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Of the current six conservatives on the bench, Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett have developed something of a swing vote status.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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That means that 60 votes would be needed to end debate on any legislative extension.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, the President urged lawmakers to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America, Act, a bill that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship and photo identification to cast ballots in all 50 states, among other changes.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
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For now, that’s all theoretical, as California Democrats scramble to avoid their party from getting boxed out of the November gubernatorial ballot.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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