What does referendum mean?
Word: Referendum
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Referendum means a vote in which all the people of a country or region answer one important question, usually with yes or no.
How do you spell referendum?
Syllables: ref - er - en - dum
Tricky part: The last beat is the slip. Think of freedom or random and you may write dom, but this word closes with a different vowel.
Watch out for: referendom, referandum
Memory tip: Imagine a drum beating to call the whole town out to vote: the word ends with the same um as that drum.
Referendum in a sentence
Example 1: Our class held a mock referendum on whether to have a longer lunch break.
Example 2: The town council has asked for a referendum on the new bridge.
Example 3: A referendum lets ordinary people decide a question directly.
Fun Fact
Switzerland uses the referendum more than almost any other country, with national votes held several times a year.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ufmeredren
a) reference
b) referendum
c) preference
d) reverence
Show answer
b) referendum. Reference, preference and reverence all need a c, and there is none among these letters.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
People across the island will vote in a refrendum on the new airport next spring.
a) island
b) refrendum
c) spring
d) airport
Show answer
b) refrendum. An e sits between the f and the r, which gives the word four beats, not three.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
referrendum
a) r
b) n
c) f
d) e
Show answer
a) r. Refer doubles its r in referring, but not in this noun.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) democracy
b) referendum
c) consitution
d) election
Show answer
c) consitution. A t belongs right after the s in constitution.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A region holds a referendum on a new tram line. Who makes the final choice?
a) the top judges of the country
b) the voters of the region
c) a small panel of engineers
d) a committee of ministers
Show answer
b) the voters of the region
2. Which question would best suit a referendum?
a) How many days are in a leap year?
b) Who won the match last night?
c) Should we change our national flag?
d) What is your favourite colour?
Show answer
c) Should we change our national flag?
