referee
/rɛfəˈriː
/noun
1An official who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are adhered to and (in some sports) to arbitrate on matters arising from the play: the referee sent off two French players...
- During the match assistant referee Andrew Halliday was felled by a hurled coin and bottles were thrown.
- He has served as an ICC match referee and is a past chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
- The results have been positive with one of our assistant referees officiating in the last World Cup tournament in France.
Synonyms
umpire, judge, referee's assistant, assistant referee, linesman, line judge, adjudicator, arbitrator, arbiter, mediator
informal ref
2British A person willing to testify in writing about the character or ability of someone, especially an applicant for a job: the subject of a bad reference can sue the referee for libel...
- While other character referees chose to scurry straight out of court or only give written statements, Andrew Vizard sat next to his brother before and after his evidence.
- The paper also claimed that Ron Walker and Eddie McGuire have declined to be character referees in court on Thursday.
- The line-up of character referees in the Federal Court on 21 February will be interesting to watch.
Synonyms
supporter, character witness, backer, advocate
2.1A person appointed to examine and assess for publication a scientific or other academic work: most journals send the referees' reports to the author...
- We are all familiar with how journal editors can select referees to get the reports they want.
- We acknowledge the very important role of the many men and women who agree to serve as academic referees for the manuscripts submitted to Sociology of Religion.
- Connor said that the referees were against publication.
verb (referees, refereeing, refereed) [with object]
Act as the referee of: he refereed two of the first-round group matches (as noun refereeing) erratic and inconsistent refereeing...
- The coach also pinpointed a double refereeing error shortly after the interval as a significant factor in the outcome.
- I'm lucky because the more you referee games and the more players get used to your face and your style of refereeing the better it is.
- Andy is a strong character and he will come through this but my worry is the impact this will have on refereeing recruitment.
Synonyms
umpire, judge, adjudicate, run, be in control of
