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referendum

Etymology and origin of the English word referendum

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1847
Ultimate origin
Latin (referendum)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˌref.əˈren.dəm/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed through French référendum and German Referendum from Latin referendum (“a thing to be referred, brought back”),[2][3][4] the neuter gerundive of referre, to bring back (see refer).[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The practice of submitting a law to a popular vote, at first chiefly in reference to Switzerland: 1847 in Barnhart, Etymonline and the OED;[2][3][6] Merriam-Webster gives 1817.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Switzerland the people had the right to decide on certain laws passed by the legislature.[3] General use, outside Switzerland, is by 1882.[3] Fowler (1926) preferred the plural referendums, because referenda too strongly suggests the correct sense, questions to be referred.[3] In diplomacy, a referendum is also a note asking one's government for instructions.[7]

Timeline

  • 1847 – in Swiss politics.[2][3]
  • 1882 – general use.[3]
  • 1926 – Fowler on the plural.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The submission of a question or proposed law to a direct vote of the electorate, or the vote itself.
  2. A poll of the members of a group on some matter.

Usage notes

Both plurals, referendums and referenda, are used.[8][1]

References

  1. ^ a b Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  8. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
Cite this entry

“Referendum.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/referendum. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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