referendum
noun/ˌrefəˈrendəm/
/ˌrefəˈrendəm/
[countable, uncountable] (plural referendums, referenda
/ˌrefəˈrendə/
/ˌrefəˈrendə/
)- an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue
- referendum on something Switzerland decided to hold a referendum on joining the EU.
- by referendum The changes were approved by referendum.
Collocations Voting in electionsVoting in electionsRunning for election- conduct/hold an election/a referendum
- (especially North American English) run for office/election/governor/mayor/president/the White House
- (especially British English) stand for election/office/Parliament/the Labour Party/a second term
- hold/call/contest a general/national election
- launch/run a presidential election campaign
- support/back a candidate
- sway/convince/persuade voters/the electorate
- appeal to/attract/woo/target (North American English) swing voters/(British English) floating voters
- fix/rig/steal an election/the vote
- go to/be turned away from (especially British English) a polling station/(North American English) a polling place
- cast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody)
- vote for the Conservative candidate/the Democratic party
- mark/spoil your ballot paper
- count (British English) the postal votes/(especially North American English) the absentee ballots
- go to/be defeated at the ballot box
- get/win/receive/lose votes
- get/win (60% of) the popular/black/Hispanic/Latino/Muslim vote
- win the election/(in the US) the primaries/a seat in Parliament/a majority/power
- lose an election/the vote/your majority/your seat
- win/come to power in a landslide (victory) (= with many more votes than any other party)
- elect/re-elect somebody (as) mayor/president/an MP/senator/congressman/congresswoman
- be sworn into office/in as president
- take/administer (in the US) the oath of office
- swear/take (in the UK) an/the oath of allegiance
- give/deliver (in the US) the president’s inaugural address
- take/enter/hold/leave office
- appoint somebody (as) ambassador/governor/judge/minister
- form a government/a cabinet
- serve two terms as prime minister/in office
Synonyms electionelectionvote ▪ poll ▪ referendum ▪ ballotThese are all words for an event in which people choose a representative or decide something by voting.election an occasion on which people officially choose a political representative or government by voting:- Who did you vote for in the last election?
- They took a vote on who should go first.
- They suffered a defeat at the polls.
- The issue will be decided in a national referendum.
- The leader will be chosen by secret ballot.
- a national/local election/vote/poll/referendum/ballot
- to have/hold/conduct a(n) election/vote/poll/referendum/ballot
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsc1- California voters passed a referendum allocating $22 billion for school facilities.
- The Democrats rejected the referendum proposal.
- The agreement was approved in a referendum.
- The group called for a referendum on the death penalty.
- The issue will be decided in a national referendum.
- The president called a referendum that he hoped would confirm him in power.
- The president won a referendum on his rule.
- The proposals were put to a referendum.
- The referendum will be held on July 14th.
- The unions urged people to boycott the referendum.
- UN monitors declared the referendum fair.
- a new constitution adopted by referendum
- At times the referendum campaign became quite nasty.
- Referendums are most often held to decide major changes to the constitution.
- The president called a referendum on the new divorce laws.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- planned
- proposed
- popular
- …
- conduct
- hold
- put something to
- …
- show something
- approve something
- fail
- …
- proposal
- campaign
- process
- …
- in a/the referendum
- referendum on
- the result of a referendum
Word Originmid 19th cent.: from Latin, gerund (‘referring’), or neuter gerundive (‘something to be brought back or referred’) of referre ‘carry back’, from re- ‘back’ + ferre ‘bring’.
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