referendumnoun [ C ]
uk/ˌref.əˈren.dəm/us/ˌref.əˈren.dəm/plural referendums or formal referenda formal plebiscite formalC2 a vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question:
Is it more democratic to hold a referendum, rather than let the government alone decide?
More examples
- A nationwide referendum will be held to decide the issue.
- The opposition are demanding a referendum on the issue.
- A referendum was held on the question of whether the U.K. should remain a member of the European Community.
- The proposed referendum is consultative only and is not binding on Parliament.
- There has been much debate over the exact wording of the referendum.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Elections
- absentee ballot
- absentee vote
- absolute majority
- abstain
- abstention
- aye
- first-past-the-post
- franchise
- general election
- gerrymandering
- go to the country idiom
- nominate
- rigging
- safe
- scrutineer
- secret ballot
- show of hands
- spoil
- stump
- vote of confidence
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