referendum
UK: ˌrefəˈrendəm | US: ˌrefəˈrendəm
n. a direct vote by the electorate on a specific political or constitutional issue
n. the process of referring a legislative measure to the public for approval
referendum = refer<to bring back> + endum<gerund suffix>
- refer (from Latin referre, "to bring back, report," combining re- "back" + ferre "to carry")
- endum (Latin gerundive suffix indicating necessity or obligation, as in agendum "thing to be done")
Etymology Origin:
The term referendum originates from Latin, where referre meant "to bring back" or "to report." The suffix -endum transforms it into a noun meaning "that which must be referred." Historically, it described the practice of submitting legislative decisions to public vote, reflecting the idea of "carrying back" authority to the people. The word entered English in the 19th century via Swiss politics, where direct democracy practices were formalized.
The government held a referendum to decide whether to adopt the new constitution.
Swiss citizens frequently participate in referendums on national policies.
The referendum results showed overwhelming support for the environmental bill.
Critics argue that referendums can oversimplify complex political issues.
The Brexit referendum in 2016 had far-reaching consequences for the UK and EU.