referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

1

: the act, action, or an instance of referring

gave the patient a referral to a specialist

2

: one that is referred

Examples of referral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In rare cases where kids are suspended, programs must set up home visits and explore a referral for special education services. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

For every hundred conversions organic search delivers today, AI referrals deliver three. — Ben Foster, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Yet, with appropriate oversight, AI has the possibility to provide critical medications especially as hospital systems exceed patient volumes and face lengthy referral when patients need important medications. — Esha Desai, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

But the report found no evidence of administrative misconduct and saw nothing meriting a criminal referral to prosecutors. — Matt Peterson, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing referral

• self-referral

Rhymes for referral

• deferral
• epidural
• postdoctoral
• predoctoral
• neral
• squirrel

Kids Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

Medical Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

1

: the process of directing or redirecting (as a medical case or a patient) to an appropriate specialist or agency for definitive treatment

2

: an individual that is referred

Legal Definition

referral

noun

re·​fer·​ral ri-ˈfər-əl 

: the act or an instance of referring

appealed the referral of the bill to the Budget Committee