reference

[ ref-er-uhns, ref-ruhns ]

noun

1. an act or instance of referring.
2. a mention; allusion.
3. something for which a name or designation stands; denotation.
4. a direction in a book or writing to some other book, passage, etc.

   Synonyms: citation, note

5. a book, passage, etc., to which one is directed.
6. reference mark ( def 2 ).
7. material contained in a footnote or bibliography, or referred to by a reference mark.
8. use or recourse for purposes of information:

   a library for public reference.

9. a book or other source of useful facts or information, such as an encyclopedia, dictionary, etc.
10. a person to whom one refers for testimony as to one's character, abilities, etc.
11. a statement, usually written, as to a person's character, abilities, etc.

    Synonyms: endorsement

12. relation, regard, or respect:

    all persons, without reference to age.

    Synonyms: concern, consideration

verb (used with object)

, ref·er·enced, ref·er·enc·ing.

1. to furnish (a book, dissertation, etc.) with references:

   Each new volume is thoroughly referenced.

2. to arrange (notes, data, etc.) for easy reference:

   Statistical data is referenced in the glossary.

3. to refer to:

   to reference a file.

reference

/ ˈrɛfərəns; ˌrɛfəˈrɛnʃəl; ˈrɛfrəns /

noun

1. the act or an instance of referring
2. something referred, esp proceedings submitted to a referee in law
3. a direction of the attention to a passage elsewhere or to another book, document, etc
4. a book or passage referred to
5. a mention or allusion

   this book contains several references to the Civil War

6. philosophy
   1. the relation between a word, phrase, or symbol and the object or idea to which it refers
   2. the object referred to by an expression Compare sense
7. 1. a source of information or facts
   2. ( as modifier )

      a reference book

      a reference library

8. a written testimonial regarding one's character or capabilities
9. a person referred to for such a testimonial
10. 1. foll by to relation or delimitation, esp to or by membership of a specific class or group; respect or regard

       all people, without reference to sex or age

    2. ( as modifier )

       a reference group

11. point of reference
    a fact forming the basis of an evaluation or assessment; criterion
12. terms of reference
    the specific limits of responsibility that determine the activities of an investigating body, etc

verb

1. to furnish or compile a list of references for (an academic thesis, publication, etc)
2. to make a reference to; refer to

   he referenced Chomsky, 1956

preposition

1. commerce with reference to re

   reference your letter of the 9th inst

Derived Forms

• referential, adjective
• ˈreferencer, noun

Other Words From

• mis·refer·ence noun
• non·refer·ence noun
• pre·refer·ence noun
• sub·refer·ence noun
• un·refer·enced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reference¹

First recorded in 1580–90; refer + -ence

Idioms and Phrases

see in regard (reference) to .

Example Sentences

Coote used Klopp’s German nationality to preface one of his comments and FA rules state nationality is one of the references that can lead to an aggravated breach of its rules.

From BBC

There’s even a winking reference to her Pussycat Dolls fame in the backstage bit that opens the second act.

From Los Angeles Times

With the Rams, Robinson was referenced in one of the most memorable quotes in Los Angeles sports history.

From Los Angeles Times

Homan, 62, started his career as a police officer in New York state before serving as a border patrol agent - a role he often references.

From BBC

Fox’s Instagram caption seemingly references her previous miscarriage, which she wrote about in her 2023 poetry collection, “Pretty Boys Are Poisonous.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allusion
• hint
• innuendo
• mention
• note
• quotation

More About Reference

What does reference mean?

Reference means an act of referring, that is, an act of directing someone to something, Jaya noted the name of the author for future reference.

Reference also means a direct mention or to the actual books or materials that someone is being referred to, as in The greedy pig named Bob Bacon was a reference to the actual business tycoon of the same name.

Reference can also mean material that can be referred to for information, as in The encyclopedia is a good reference to use when doing your homework.

In a piece of writing, a reference is a direction or citation leading a reader to another book or passage for more information, as in The author listed several references at the bottom of the page.

Any of these senses can also be used as verbs, as in All of the graphical data was referenced at the end of the study.

Reference is also commonly used to mean people that give testimony about a person’s character, such as for a job application, as in The teacher agreed to be listed as a reference on Namita’s college application.

Example: Teachers often tell their students how many references their research papers need to have.

Where does reference come from?

The first records of the term reference come from around 1580. It combines the word refer, meaning to direct someone to, and the suffix –ence, which forms a noun and indicates an action.

Reference has multiple meanings that are all commonly used. In general, the word reference in some way indicates that your attention is being directed somewhere. References in writing often direct you to other pieces of writing, while a list of job references directs a hiring department to sources that will vouch for your work experience.

Of course, the website you are using right now is also an excellent reference you can direct someone to when they are confused about words and their meanings!

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to reference?

• misreference (noun)
• nonreference (noun)
• prereference (noun)
• subreference (noun)
• referential (adjective)

What are some synonyms for reference?

• citation
• note
• mention
• endorsement
• recommendation

What are some words that share a root or word element with reference?

• refer

What are some words that often get used in discussing reference?

• direct
• quote
• data
• book
• materials
• sources

How is reference used in real life?

Reference has several different commonly used meanings.

Sometimes I talk to my kids like Samantha from Sex And The City, they’ve never seen so they don’t get the reference. But they agree, whoever that is, is a menace.

— Paul Danke Portland OR. 7/1 Siren theater (@pauldanke) September 29, 2020

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all notice: Keep your receipts for future reference. They may come in handy.

— L. Spenser Smith (@LSpenserSmith) October 20, 2017

Friends using each other as job references is my favorite form of finessing the system.

— Bella Goth (@HotCommieGal) February 23, 2020

Try using reference!

Is the following a correct use of reference?

It is wise to keep a copy of any contract you sign for your own reference.