[countable,uncountable]referendum (on something)an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issueSwitzerland decided to hold a referendum on joining the EU.The changes were approved by referendum.Wordfinderdemocracycandidate,constituency,contest,democracy,election,majority,manifesto,poll,referendum,swing voteCollocationsVoting in electionsRunning for electionconduct/hold an election/a referendum(especially North American English)run for office/election/governor/mayor/president/the White House(especially British English)stand for election/office/Parliament/the Labour Party/a second termhold/call/contest a general/national electionlaunch/run a presidential election campaignsupport/back a candidatesway/convince/persuade voters/the electorateappeal to/attract/woo/target(North American English) swing voters/(British English) floating votersfix/rig/steal an election/the voteVotinggo to/be turned away from(especially British English) a polling station/(North American English) a polling placecast a/your vote/ballot (for somebody)vote for the Conservative candidate/the Democratic partymark/spoil your ballot papercount(British English) the postal votes/(especially North American English) the absentee ballotsgo to/be defeated at the ballot boxget/win/receive/lose votesget/win (60% of) the popular/black/Hispanic/Latino/Muslim votewin the election/(in the US) the primaries/a seat in Parliament/a majority/powerlose an election/the vote/your majority/your seatwin/come to power in a landslide (victory) (= with many more votes than any other party)elect/re-elect somebody (as) mayor/president/an MP/senator/congressman/congresswomanTaking powerbe sworn into office/in as presidenttake/administer (in the US) the oath of officeswear/take (in the UK) an/the oath of allegiancegive/deliver (in the US) the president’s inaugural addresstake/enter/hold/leave officeappoint somebody (as) ambassador/governor/judge/ministerform a government/a cabinetserve two terms as prime minister/in officeeconomy,politicsSynonymselectionvotepollreferendumballotThese are all words for an event in which people choose a representative or decide something by voting.election an occasion on which people officially choose a political representative or government by voting:Who did you vote for in the last election?vote an occasion on which a group of people vote for somebody/something:They took a vote on who should go first.poll (journalism) the process of voting in an election:They suffered a defeat at the polls.referendum an occasion on which all the adults in a country can vote on a particular issueballot the system of voting by marking an election paper, especially in secret; an occasion on which a vote is held:The leader will be chosen by secret ballot.Ballot is usually used about a vote within an organization rather than an occasion on which the public vote.Patterns a national/local election/vote/poll/referendum/ballot to have/hold/conduct a(n) election/vote/poll/referendum/ballotOxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectiveplanned,proposed,popular,…verb + referendumconduct,hold,put something to,…referendum + verbshow something,approve something,fail,…referendum + nounproposal,campaign,process,…prepositionin a/the referendum,referendum onphrasesthe result of a referendumSeefull entryWord Originmid 19th cent.: from Latin, gerund (‘referring’), or neuter gerundive (‘something to be brought back or referred’) of referre ‘carry back’, from re- ‘back’ + ferre ‘bring’.Extra examplesCalifornia voters passed a referendum allocating $22 billion for school facilities.The Democrats rejected the referendum proposal.The agreement was approved in a referendum.The group called for a referendum on the death penalty.The issue will be decided in a national referendum.The president called a referendum that he hoped would confirm him in power.The president won a referendum on his rule.The proposals were put to a referendum.The referendum will be held on July 14th.The unions urged people to boycott the referendum.UN monitors declared the referendum fair.a new constitution adopted by referendumAt times the referendum campaign became quite nasty.Referendums are most often held to decide major changes to the constitution.The president called a referendum on the new divorce laws.
See referendum in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishSee referendum in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
