reference

noun
UK: /ˈrefrəns/
US: /ˈrefrəns/

  1. The act of mentioning something.

    1. The book makes reference to several important studies. [ ] [ ]
    2. His reference to ancient history showed his wide knowledge of the past. [ ] [ ]

  2. A letter that speaks about your skills and character.

    1. My old boss wrote me a reference for the job. [ ] [ ]
    2. The company asked for references before they offered him the position. [ ] [ ]

  3. A source of information, like a book or website.

    1. I used a reference book to find the answer. [ ] [ ]
    2. This encyclopedia is a great reference for historical facts. [ ] [ ]

  4. A person who can vouch for your character and abilities.

    1. Can I use you as a reference on my application? [ ] [ ]
    2. She listed her professor as a reference for her graduate school application. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

citation recommendation mention testimonial source referral
reference verb

  1. To mention something.

    1. He did not reference any sources in his essay. [ ] [ ]
    2. The speaker will reference new data during the presentation today. [ ] [ ]

  2. To provide a reference for someone.

    1. She agreed to reference him for the volunteer position. [ ] [ ]
    2. He asked his former supervisor to reference him when he applied for the job. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "reference" in English means: The act of mentioning something., A letter that speaks about your skills and character., A source of information, like a book or website., A person who can vouch for your character and abilities..

The phonetic transcription of "reference" is /ˈrefrəns/ in British English and /ˈrefrəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "reference": citation, recommendation, mention, testimonial, source, referral.

Example usage of "reference": "The book makes reference to several important studies.". More examples on the page.