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referendum

 - 6 dictionary results

ref⋅er⋅en⋅dum

  [ref-uh-ren-duhm]
–noun, plural -dums, -da  [-duh] .
1. the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. Compare initiative (def. 4a).
2. a measure thus referred.
3. a vote on such a measure.
Use referendum in a Sentence
Origin:
1840–50; < L: thing to be referred (neut. ger. of referre to bring back; see refer )
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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ref·er·en·dum   (rěf'ə-rěn'dəm)   
n.   pl. ref·er·en·dums or ref·er·en·da (-də)

    1. The submission of a proposed public measure or actual statute to a direct popular vote.

    2. Such a vote.

  2. A note from a diplomat to the diplomat's government requesting instructions.


[Latin, neuter gerundive of referre, to refer; see refer.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

referendum [(ref-uh-ren-duhm)]

A vote by the general public, rather than by governmental bodies, on a bill or some other important issue; a plebiscite. (See under “American Politics.”)


referendum [(ref-uh-ren-duhm)]

A direct popular vote on an issue of public policy, such as a proposed amendment to a state constitution or a proposed law. Referendums, which allow the general population to participate in policymaking, are not used at the national level, but are common at the state and local levels. A referendum is often used to gauge popular approval or rejection of laws recently passed or under consideration by a state legislature. A referendum can also be used to initiate legislative action.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

referendum 
1847, "submitting a question to the voters as a whole" (originally chiefly in reference to Switzerland), from Fr. or Ger., from L. referendum "that which must be referred," lit. "thing brought back," from neut. gerundive of referre "to bring or take back" (see refer). As a gerundive, it has no plural in Latin; referendums is preferred in Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ref·er·en·dum
Pronunciation: "r&-f&-'ren-d&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -da /-d&/ or -dums
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, neuter of referendus, gerundive of referre to refer
: the submission to popular vote of a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative; also : the popular vote on a measure so submitted
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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