referee

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   An official who supervises a game or match to make sure players follow the rules.

   Grammar: Countable: a referee, the referee, two referees.

   Patterns

   • the referee blows the whistle
   • a referee for a match

   The referee stopped the game when a player was injured.

   Players should not argue with the referee.

   She has been a referee for international soccer matches.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   To act as the official who enforces the rules of a game or match.

   Grammar: Can take an object: referee a match; or be used without one: He referees on weekends.

   Patterns

   • referee a game
   • referee a match

   He refereed the championship final last year.

   She referees youth basketball games on Saturdays.

3. 3nouncountable

   A person who provides a reference for someone applying for a job or course.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in job applications: provide a referee.

   Patterns

   • provide a referee
   • list someone as a referee

   Please provide the names of two referees.

   My former manager agreed to be a referee for me.

Word forms

Common combinations

referee a match

She was asked to referee the final match.

the referee's decision

The referee's decision was controversial.

assistant referee

The assistant referee raised the flag for offside.

act as referee

A retired player acted as referee for the charity game.

Synonyms and how they differ

umpire

Used more in baseball, cricket, and tennis; a referee usually handles soccer, boxing, and wrestling.

official

A general word for anyone in charge of enforcing rules; referee is more specific to certain sports.

judge

Used in some sports and competitions, but not for soccer or boxing.

Word family

refereeing noun

The activity or job of being a referee.

Commonly confused: referee or umpire?

Practice

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