referee
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: referees · refereeing · refereed
Sense 1
An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
Noun
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
A person who settles a dispute.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
To act as a referee.
Verb
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “referee” mean?
An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
Is “referee” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.