referendum
pronunciation
How to pronounce referendum in British English:
UK [ˌrefəˈrendəm]
How to pronounce referendum in American English:
US [ˌrefəˈrendəm]
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- Noun:
- a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate
Word Origin
- referendum (n.)
- 1847, "a submitting of a question to the voters as a whole" (originally chiefly in reference to Switzerland), from French or German, from Latin referendum "that which must be referred," literally "thing brought back," neuter gerundive of referre "to bring or take back" (see refer). As a gerundive, it has no plural in Latin; referendums is preferred in English.
Example
- 1. Needless to say , the referendum was not received with much enthusiasm on the continent , and understandably so .
- 2. Ironically , prime minister 's cameron 's referendum initiative links the two in an ultimately incompatible fashion .
- 3. But the president 's referendum idea is equally cock-eyed .
- 4. His referendum now seems unlikely to take place .
- 5. But this change must be put to the people in a referendum .