{
    "term": "referendum",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue",
            "sensetop": "referendum on somethingby referendum",
            "labels": "(especially North American English)(especially British English)(North American English)(British English)(especially British English)(North American English)(British English)(especially North American English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Switzerland decided to **hold a referendum** on joining the EU.",
                    "contextForm": "referendum on something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The changes were approved by referendum.",
                    "contextForm": "by referendum"
                },
                {
                    "text": "California voters passed a referendum allocating $22 billion for school facilities."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Democrats rejected the referendum proposal."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The agreement was approved in a referendum."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The group called for a referendum on the death penalty."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The issue will be decided in a national referendum."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president called a referendum that he hoped would confirm him in power."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president won a referendum on his rule."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The proposals were put to a referendum."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The referendum will be held on July 14th."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The unions urged people to boycott the referendum."
                },
                {
                    "text": "UN monitors declared the referendum fair."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a new constitution adopted by referendum"
                },
                {
                    "text": "At times the referendum campaign became quite nasty."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Referendums are most often held to decide major changes to the constitution."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The president called a referendum on the new divorce laws."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Politics"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["planned", "proposed", "popular"],
                "verb + referendum": ["conduct", "hold", "put something to"],
                "referendum + verb": ["show something", "approve something", "fail"],
                "referendum + noun": ["proposal", "campaign", "process"],
                "preposition": ["in a/​the referendum", "referendum on"],
                "phrases": ["the result of a referendum"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˌrefəˈrendəm/",
                "audio": "re/referendum/referendum__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˌrefəˈrendə/",
                "audio": "re/referendum/referenda__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˌrefəˈrendəm/",
                "audio": "re/referendum/referendum__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˌrefəˈrendə/",
                "audio": "re/referendum/referenda__us_5.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "mid 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’."
}