referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

1

: the act, action, or an instance of referring

gave the patient a referral to a specialist

2

: one that is referred

Examples of referral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among other things, the report makes a criminal referral to the Department of Justice to consider prosecuting Cheney for her activities on the House Select Committee. —Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2025

Their letter argued that a referral to the Justice Department was warranted on the grounds that Thomas had willfully failed to comply with the financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. —Nate Raymond, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025

Under the rules, if no action has taken place, a summary of the referral is publicly released if there’s no resolution one year after the referral. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2025

In a letter to Democratic senators, U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad said that existing procedures do not clearly authorize such referrals for Supreme Court justices. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing referral

• self-referral

Kids Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

1

: the process of directing or redirecting (as a medical case or a patient) to an appropriate specialist or agency for definitive treatment

2

: an individual that is referred

Legal Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee