Meaning & use
referee
An official who supervises a game or match to ensure players follow the rules.
See it in a sentence
The referee blew his whistle and awarded a penalty kick after the foul.
Fans booed the referee's controversial decision to disallow the goal.
A note on using this word
"Referee" is used mainly for sports like soccer and boxing, while "umpire" is preferred in cricket, baseball, and tennis.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To act as an official who enforces the rules of a game or match.
She agreed to referee the youth soccer match on Saturday morning.
3. noun
A person who provides a reference for someone applying for a job.
He listed his former manager as a referee on his job application.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “referee”, then compare your use with the examples above.