reference
1 of 3noun
ref·er·ence ˈre-fərn(t)s 
ˈre-f(ə-)rən(t)s
1
: the act of referring or consulting
2
: a bearing on a matter : relation
in reference to your recent letter
3
: something that refers: such as
a
: allusion, mention
b
: something (such as a sign or indication) that refers a reader or consulter to another source of information (such as a book or passage)
c
: consultation of sources of information
4
: one referred to or consulted: such as
a
: a person to whom inquiries as to character or ability can be made
b
: a statement of the qualifications of a person seeking employment or appointment given by someone familiar with the person
c(1)
: a source of information (such as a book or passage) to which a reader or consulter is referred
(2)
: a work (such as a dictionary or encyclopedia) containing useful facts or information
d
: denotation, meaning
reference
2 of 3adjective
: used or usable for reference
especially : constituting a standard for measuring or constructing
reference
3 of 3verb
referenced; referencing
transitive verb
1
a
: to supply with references
b
: to cite in or as a reference
2
: to put in a form (such as a table) adapted to easy reference
Synonyms
Noun
- authority
- source
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun references to an earlier event The numbers were calculated by reference to the most recent census. Reference to a map will make the position clear. She listed her former teacher as a reference when she applied for the job. Her former teacher gave her a reference when she applied for the job. Her teacher gave her a letter of reference. Adjective a list of reference materials Verb The book references many other authors who have written on this topic. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Julie Ricevuto, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2022 During the chat with Alo Yoga’s CEO and co-founder Danny Harris, West commented on Harris’s reference to a book. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2022 In some editions Friday, the first name of Shohei Ohtani, a Los Angeles Angels player, was misspelled as Shoehei on second reference. WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Jessica's return comes with two Easter eggs from Part III: a mac and cheese reference and Elizabeth Anne Rooney, who (off screen in the film) stole Jessica's boyfriend. Ryan Parker, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 The white riot of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol Building is impossible to understand without reference to earlier, yet strikingly similar, efforts during the First Reconstruction period. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Homicide detectives asked anyone with information about the case to call 801-799-3000 and reference case No. 22-178180. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 Martin Scorsese and Mean Streets seem an obvious reference. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2022 The People’s Bank of China set the daily reference rate for the yuan at the strongest bias on record versus the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts and traders. Robert Brand, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 12 July 2021 This process sees them cross-reference lists of the dead from the Washington Department of Health and the Social Security Administration. Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2020 The access could help OFAC cross-reference information with other investigators, including those in the U.S. intelligence community, said Mr. Lorber, a former senior adviser to the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Jack Hagel, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2020 Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 10 June 2022 The GPS Archive sneakers reference Nike’s history and values brought to life by Sachs’ studio. Sara Klausing, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2022 For example, the custom, artisanal kitchen cabinets reference the whalers and plein air painters who once intermingled on Long Island’s South Fork. Marni Elyse Katz, House Beautiful, 16 Aug. 2022 The simple thing to do would be to cross-reference the post with CNN’s own content, or any reputable news source, to discern fact from fiction. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2022 Nashville artist Charlotte Terrell creates custom murals for her clients that reference traditional scenics but veer more towards abstraction. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 25 May 2022 Each Apparatus collection is treated as an all-encompassing production with titles that reference the structure of literature and drama. Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 20 Apr. 2022 They were listed in a 1912 volume that does not reference any J. Player timepiece, according to Sophie Harding of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. Daniel Miller Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2021 Although delinquencies might be indirectly reflected in the general financial records which Civil Code Section 5200 says members can inspect, other statutes reference the confidentiality of delinquencies. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Read on for their pro-advice and reference photos to take into the salon during your next visit. Julie Ricevuto, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2022 During the chat with Alo Yoga’s CEO and co-founder Danny Harris, West commented on Harris’s reference to a book. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2022 In some editions Friday, the first name of Shohei Ohtani, a Los Angeles Angels player, was misspelled as Shoehei on second reference. WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 Jessica's return comes with two Easter eggs from Part III: a mac and cheese reference and Elizabeth Anne Rooney, who (off screen in the film) stole Jessica's boyfriend. Ryan Parker, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 The white riot of January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol Building is impossible to understand without reference to earlier, yet strikingly similar, efforts during the First Reconstruction period. Time, 15 Sep. 2022 Homicide detectives asked anyone with information about the case to call 801-799-3000 and reference case No. 22-178180. Kolbie Peterson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 Martin Scorsese and Mean Streets seem an obvious reference. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2022 The People’s Bank of China set the daily reference rate for the yuan at the strongest bias on record versus the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts and traders. Robert Brand, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 Adjective
State officials regularly cross-reference voting records with BMV records, which list someone’s citizenship status on their driver’s license. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 12 July 2021 This process sees them cross-reference lists of the dead from the Washington Department of Health and the Social Security Administration. Tim Gruver, Washington Examiner, 11 Dec. 2020 The access could help OFAC cross-reference information with other investigators, including those in the U.S. intelligence community, said Mr. Lorber, a former senior adviser to the Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. Jack Hagel, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2020 Verb
Were there moments that felt essential to reference? Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, 10 June 2022 The GPS Archive sneakers reference Nike’s history and values brought to life by Sachs’ studio. Sara Klausing, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2022 For example, the custom, artisanal kitchen cabinets reference the whalers and plein air painters who once intermingled on Long Island’s South Fork. Marni Elyse Katz, House Beautiful, 16 Aug. 2022 The simple thing to do would be to cross-reference the post with CNN’s own content, or any reputable news source, to discern fact from fiction. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2022 Nashville artist Charlotte Terrell creates custom murals for her clients that reference traditional scenics but veer more towards abstraction. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 25 May 2022 Each Apparatus collection is treated as an all-encompassing production with titles that reference the structure of literature and drama. Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 20 Apr. 2022 They were listed in a 1912 volume that does not reference any J. Player timepiece, according to Sophie Harding of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. Daniel Miller Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2021 Although delinquencies might be indirectly reflected in the general financial records which Civil Code Section 5200 says members can inspect, other statutes reference the confidentiality of delinquencies. Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1856, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing reference
Kids Definition
reference
noun
ref·er·ence ˈre-fə-rəns
ˈref-rəns
1
: the act of looking at or in something for information Reference to a map will make our location clear.
2
: a relation to or concern with something
I am writing in reference to your advertisement.
3
: the act or an instance of mentioning
They made no references to my error.
4
: a work (as a dictionary) that contains useful information
5
: something that refers a reader to another source of information
6
: a person who can be asked for information about another person's character or ability
7
: a written statement about someone's character or ability
Medical Definition
reference 1 of 2
adjective
ref·er·ence ˈref-(ə-)rən(t)s
: of known potency and used as a standard in the biological assay of a sample of the same drug of unknown strength
a dose of reference cod-liver oil
reference
2 of 2 see idea of reference
Legal Definition
reference
noun
ref·er·ence ˈre-frəns, -fə-rəns
1
: an act of referring
specifically : mention or citation of one document (as a statute) in another
a municipality may adopt by reference all or a part of this title Alaska Statutes
see also incorporate Alaska Statutes 2
: a referral especially to a legislative committee or master
also : an order referring a matter to a master
the extent to which any party is more responsible than other parties for the reference to a master Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 53(g)
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 53(g) reference 1 of 2
noun
1
as in source
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the author's argument is interesting, but the lack of references makes me wonder if it can be proven Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- source
- quotation
- citation
- footnote
- authority
- cross-reference
- excerpt
- extract
- caption
- note
2
as in regard
relation to or concern with something specified this reply is in reference to your last question Synonyms & Similar Words
- regard
- respect
reference
2 of 2verb
as in to source
Synonyms & Similar Words
- source
- document
- corroborate
- validate
- bear out
- specify
- illustrate
- name
- quote
- instance
- cite
- mention
- substantiate
- exemplify
- represent
- touch (on or upon)
- adduce
- advert (to)
- refer (to)
Phrases Containing reference
- epithelial
- epithelial body
- epithelial germ
- epithelial pearl
- epithelialisation
- epithelialization
- epithelializations
- epithelialize
- epithelialized
- epithelializes
- epithelializing
- epithelio-
- epithelioid
- epithelioma
- epitheliomas
- epitheliomata
- epitheliomatous
- epitheliomuscular
- epitheliotropic
- epithelisation
- epithelium
- epitheliums
- epithelization
- epithelizations
- epithelize