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
Under Virginia law, both houses of the General Assembly would have to adopt the constitutional amendment once more early next year before a redistricting plan could be submitted to voters for approval by referendum.
—
Steve Gorman, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
As a result of the referendum, MPS was able to collect an additional $140 million in general revenue from state and local taxpayers last year, and an another additional $51 million this year.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
For example, the city didn’t have to put the Olympia Theater sale to a referendum last month because the buyer was a public charter school and the property would be used for educational purposes.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Britain formally left the European Union in January 2020, after years of negotiating with the bloc following a 2016 referendum.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Steve Gorman, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
As a result of the referendum, MPS was able to collect an additional $140 million in general revenue from state and local taxpayers last year, and an another additional $51 million this year.
—Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 2025
For example, the city didn’t have to put the Olympia Theater sale to a referendum last month because the buyer was a public charter school and the property would be used for educational purposes.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Britain formally left the European Union in January 2020, after years of negotiating with the bloc following a 2016 referendum.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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What To Know Kretchmar won the mayoral election by a whisker, winning 917 votes to Republican incumbent Thomas Todd Hamilton's 904 votes.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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In Illinois, the state House’s top Republican has questioned whether Pritzker has enough votes on his side—and, given that Democrats already hold two of the state’s three House seats, even a successful effort might not gain them much.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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About 20% to 30% fewer ballots were cast in this election than in the 2021 gubernatorial recall.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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The survey shows that on a generic ballot, 43 percent would choose a Democratic candidate, while 41 percent would choose a Republican candidate.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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