variants
or referendums
as in votes
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 referenda
The passage of the referendums, whether both are approved or just one, will determine if the program reaches solvency, continues to limp along or must be significantly curtailed.
—
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Last year, voters in nine states approved referendums to cap or curb rising assessments, from tying bills to inflation in Georgia and New Mexico to expanding tax exemptions in Colorado.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
In Wisconsin, school districts are increasingly turning to referendums to address budget shortfalls and prevent cuts to staffing and programs.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2022, referendums to become a part of Russia occurred in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 24 Aug. 2025
Christian Pulisic’s first competitive match in nearly three months was, at once, a run-of-the-mill, early-round Coppa Italia win for Milan against second-division Bari and the first of many referendums on his summer of rest.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Voters would have had to approve the referendums to release local funds and allow the public transit plans to move forward.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 9 July 2025
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Last year, voters in nine states approved referendums to cap or curb rising assessments, from tying bills to inflation in Georgia and New Mexico to expanding tax exemptions in Colorado.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
In Wisconsin, school districts are increasingly turning to referendums to address budget shortfalls and prevent cuts to staffing and programs.
—Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The campaign faces a tight deadline, but veto referendums have been successful in Missouri as recently as 2017, when labor unions successfully organized to defeat a right-to-work law that would have banned compulsory union fees.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
Voters approved similar referendums in 2018, 2012 and 2006.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
In 2022, referendums to become a part of Russia occurred in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
—Tara Suter, The Hill, 24 Aug. 2025
Christian Pulisic’s first competitive match in nearly three months was, at once, a run-of-the-mill, early-round Coppa Italia win for Milan against second-division Bari and the first of many referendums on his summer of rest.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Voters would have had to approve the referendums to release local funds and allow the public transit plans to move forward.
—Jake Allen, IndyStar, 9 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referenda
Noun
-
For last round's beverage match-up, Basse's Farms' apple cider got 56% of reader votes, and Ope!—
Angelika Ytuarte,
jsonline.com,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans have fallen short of the 60 Senate votes in needs to block a Democratic filibuster.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Voter fraud and the security of mail-in ballots became a key talking point prior to the 2024 presidential election.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The bill emerged from a compromise with the Democratic assembly leader, who sought to expand the use of drop boxes for mail ballots.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referenda.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referenda. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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