What does referenda mean?
Referenda is the usual plural of referendum, a direct appeal to voters to approve or reject a proposed law, policy, constitutional change, or other public question. It commonly appears in discussions of national and regional votes, especially where several decisions are put to the electorate. The plural form is also used more broadly for questions or matters sent to another person or body for consideration, although this usage is less frequent. “Referenda” is widely accepted in British and American English, while “referendums” is an alternative plural, particularly in American usage. The word is useful in political, historical, and legal contexts because it distinguishes a vote by the whole electorate from an ordinary election for representatives or candidates. Although “referendum” originally referred to a question referred to the public, modern usage commonly concerns formal votes on a specific proposition.
plural nounPlural form of referendum: questions or proposals submitted to the electorate for approval or rejection. In some contexts, it can also refer to matters referred for consideration or decision.
- Questions or proposals submitted to the electorate for approval or rejection.
- Matters or questions referred for consideration or decision.
"The government agreed to hold national referenda on the proposed constitutional changes."
"Several national referenda were held after the reform was announced."
"The committee must settle the referenda raised by local members before the meeting."
“Referenda” is the traditional plural of “referendum.” The alternative plural “referendums” is especially common in American English and may be preferred when several votes concern the same issue.
"The court ruled that the referendum had to be held before the agreement took effect."
Referenda have one of language’s most distinctive plurals: they can refer to ballots, questions for voters, or matters sent for someone else to consider.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does referenda come from?
The word comes from Latin referendum, the neuter gerund of referre, meaning “to refer” or “to bring back.” It was originally used in the sense of a question or proposal referred to someone for consideration, especially a matter put to the people for a vote. English later developed the political sense of a direct vote by the electorate, with “referendum” as the singular and “referenda” as the traditional plural.
Related word forms
How referenda is actually used
In political contexts, “referenda” is usually the plural of “referendum.” The plural “referendums” is also accepted, particularly in American usage, and may be preferred when referring to multiple votes on the same issue. The alternative sense involving matters referred for consideration is much less common.
Easily confused with referenda
A referendum is the singular form; referenda is its usual plural, though referendums is also accepted in some varieties of English.