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Politics & Government vocabulary · Elections and Voting

Referendum

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

/ˌrefəˈrendəm/nounCore term

In politics & government, referendum means: A vote in which all citizens can decide directly on a single political question, such as a constitutional change, usually by answering yes or no.

In Turkish: referandum, halkoylaması

How it is used

A government calls or holds a referendum, and a proposal is put to a referendum. Results are reported as a yes or no vote with a percentage. Some referendums are binding, while others are only advisory. The plural is referendums or, more formally, referenda.

Example sentences

  1. The constitutional change will only take effect if it is approved in a referendum.

  2. Turnout in the referendum was higher than in the last local elections.

Common collocations

  • hold a referendum
  • call a referendum
  • referendum result
  • binding referendum
  • put something to a referendum
  • voteA formal choice that a person makes in an election or meeting, for example by marking a ballot or raising a hand; also the act of deciding something in this way.
  • constitutionThe basic set of laws and principles that sets out how a state is organized, what powers its institutions have and what rights its citizens enjoy.
  • amendmentA change made to a bill, a law or a constitution, or a formal proposal for such a change that is discussed and voted on.
  • turnoutThe number or percentage of eligible people who actually vote in an election or referendum.
  • democracyA system of government in which power belongs to the people, who choose their leaders in free elections and can replace them; also a country governed in this way.

More terms: Elections and Voting

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