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
But all possibilities are on the table, even a referendum, depending on what action the council decides to take.
—
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Chesa Boudin’s brief tenure as the avowedly progressive district attorney in San Francisco ended with his removal by voter referendum and contributed to the tech backlash that helped power Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
What began as a fight over rights ended as a referendum on priorities.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Besides making Mamdani part of their own referendum, Trump's allies are looking to hound other Democrats outside of his ideological orbit.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
Chesa Boudin’s brief tenure as the avowedly progressive district attorney in San Francisco ended with his removal by voter referendum and contributed to the tech backlash that helped power Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 25 June 2025
What began as a fight over rights ended as a referendum on priorities.
—Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Besides making Mamdani part of their own referendum, Trump's allies are looking to hound other Democrats outside of his ideological orbit.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for referendum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for referendum
Noun
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Speaking of voting, the Milwaukee County Zoo hosted a vote online to name its newish Humboldt penguin chick.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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After a record-long procedural vote to set up floor debate that lasted nine hours, the longest in the House’s history — it was eventually passed late on Wednesday.—
Lawrence Wintermeyer,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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At the time, only four candidates had been elected on the first ballot since the initial class of 1936: Bob Feller, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams and Stan Musial.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
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Elias tried to block a law banning foreign actors from funneling money into ballot initiatives in Kansas.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Referendum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/referendum. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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