Meaning & use
referendum
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A vote in which all the people of a country or region decide directly on a particular question.
Grammar: Countable: a referendum, two referendums. The plural can also be 'referenda' in formal writing.
Patterns
- hold a referendum
- call a referendum
- a referendum on something
- vote in a referendum
The government promised to hold a referendum on the new constitution.
In the referendum, 60% of voters supported the change.
A referendum is a way for citizens to decide an issue directly.
Word forms
| plural | referendums |
|---|---|
| plural (formal) | referenda |
Common combinations
- hold a referendum
- Parliament agreed to hold a referendum next spring.
- call a referendum
- The opposition called for a referendum on the tax.
- a referendum on independence
- The region held a referendum on independence.
- win a referendum
- The 'yes' campaign won the referendum by a small margin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- plebiscite
- A direct vote on a question, often used in formal or historical contexts; it can suggest a vote that approves a government's proposal.
- ballot
- A general term for a vote or the process of voting, not specifically a direct vote on one issue.
Word family
- referenda noun
- Formal plural of referendum.
Commonly confused: referendum or election?
referendum vs election
An election chooses representatives, while a referendum asks voters to decide a specific question directly.
Practice
The country will hold a _____ on whether to change its voting system.
Choose one answer.
After 'a' we need the singular countable noun 'referendum'. 'Referenda' is a plural form, 'referendums' is plural, and 'referendum's' is possessive.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “referendum”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.