SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
referendum
noun
A vote in which the public directly decides a specific proposal.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Direct public vote
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topReferendum puts a specific question to voters. Plebiscite overlaps but varies by jurisdiction; ballot measure names the proposal, not the voting process.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See referendum in use
The fictional town holds a referendum on the new charter.
A referendum lets the simulated residents vote directly on the specific proposal to add a footbridge at the western crossing.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license