referendum
noun
or referendums
Did you know?
Referendum is a Latin word, but its modern meaning only dates from the 19th century, when a new constitution adopted by Switzerland stated that the voters could vote directly on certain issues. Thus, a referendum is a measure that's referred (that is, sent on) to the people. Since the U.S. Constitution doesn't provide for referenda (notice the common plural form) at the national level, referenda tend to be on local and state issues. In most locales, a few questions usually appear on the ballot at election time, often involving such issues as new zoning ordinances, new taxes for schools, and new limits on spending.
Examples of referendum in a Sentence
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Could South Milwaukee’s recent decision to privatize its garbage pickup affect the outcome of a referendum to increase funding for the city’s library?
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Activists were given a deadline of early May to collect 177,000 signatures to spark a referendum request under Alberta's Citizen Initiative framework.
—Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The 2026 referendum is expected to generate about $358 million a year, with about $75 million going to charter schools and $283 million going to district-run schools, according to a district presentation.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/referendum. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
referendum
noun
or referendums
Legal Definition
referendum
noun
or referendums
New Latin, from Latin, neuter of referendus, gerundive of referre to refer
