Meaning & use
referral
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountablemedical
The act of sending someone to another person or service, especially a specialist.
Grammar: Often with to: a referral to a specialist.
Patterns
- a referral to someone
- by referral
My doctor gave me a referral to a heart specialist.
The clinic accepts patients by referral only.
She needs a referral from her GP.
nouncountablebusiness
A person sent to a business or professional by someone else, or a recommendation of a business.
Grammar: Business use: a customer referral.
Patterns
- a referral from someone
Most of our clients are referrals.
He gets referral fees for each client.
Word-of-mouth referrals built the shop.
nouncountableformal
The passing of a matter to a higher authority or body for decision.
Grammar: Formal, in law or sports.
Patterns
- referral of something to someone
The referral of the case to the supreme court.
The referee made a video referral.
The committee demanded a referral.
Word forms
| plural | referrals |
|---|
Common combinations
- referral program
- Join our referral program.
- doctor's referral
- You need a doctor's referral.
- by referral
- Appointments are by referral only.
- referral fee
- They pay a referral fee.
- specialist referral
- A specialist referral was arranged.
Synonyms and how they differ
- recommendation
- Recommendation is advice to use something.
- transfer
- Transfer means moving someone.
- introduction
- Introduction is bringing people together.
Word family
Commonly confused: referral or reference?
referral vs reference
A reference is a mention or a recommendation letter, unlike referral.
Practice
A patient needs a referral to see a specialist. This means...
Choose one answer.
A referral is a formal sending to another professional.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “referral”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.