Etymologically
Log in

referee

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 16:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/ (UK); /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹi/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is from English refer + -ee.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A person appointed by Parliament to examine applications for patents or monopolies: 1621 in Barnhart and the OED, the 1620s in Etymonline, a sense now obsolete;[2][4][5] Merriam-Webster dates a sense to 1549.[3]

Semantic evolution

One to whom a disputed matter is referred for decision, an umpire, is from 1670,[2][4][5] and in law a person appointed to try a case in place of the court from the 1680s.[5] The sporting sense, a judge of play in games, is recorded by 1820 in Etymonline, 1840 in Barnhart.[5][2] A person who reviews a learned work before publication is from 1884,[4] and a person who vouches for someone's character from later.[6] The verb is from 1883 in Etymonline, 1889 in Barnhart.[5][2]

Timeline

  • 1621 – a patent examiner.[2][4]
  • 1670 – an arbiter.[2]
  • 1820 – a referee in sport.[5]
  • 1883 – to referee (verb).[5]
  • 1884 – a reviewer of learned work.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An official who ensures fair play in a game such as football or boxing; an umpire.
  2. A person to whom a dispute or question is referred for a decision.
  3. A person who gives a reference about someone's character or ability.
  4. A person who reviews a scholarly work before publication.

Verb

  1. To act as referee.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins