REFERRAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does referral mean? 

• REFERRAL (noun)
  The noun REFERRAL has 3 senses:

1. a person whose case has been referred to a specialist or professional group

2. a recommendation to consult the (professional) person or group to whom one has been referred

3. the act of referring (as forwarding an applicant for employment or referring a matter to an appropriate agency)

  Familiarity information: REFERRAL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REFERRAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person whose case has been referred to a specialist or professional group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

the patient is a referral from Dr. Bones

Hypernyms ("referral" is a kind of...):

case (a person requiring professional services)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A recommendation to consult the (professional) person or group to whom one has been referred

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

the insurance company says that you need a written referral from your physician before seeing a specialist

Hypernyms ("referral" is a kind of...):

recommendation (something (as a course of action) that is recommended as advisable)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of referring (as forwarding an applicant for employment or referring a matter to an appropriate agency)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("referral" is a kind of...):

forwarding (the act of sending on to another destination)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "referral"):

remission; remit; remitment ((law) the act of remitting (especially the referral of a law case to another court))

Derivation:

refer (send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision)

 Context examples 

Case management includes nursing activities of coordination, advocacy, and referral.

(Case management nurse, NCI Thesaurus)

Your health care provider can perform the test, or call the national referral hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO (24 hours a day, 1-800-232-4636 in English and en español; 1-888-232-6348 - TTY).

(HIV/AIDS, NIH)

Essential components of the program include but are not limited to: information and referral, case management, advocacy, short term support, help in identifying and assessing the services most appropriate to meet the needs of the individual and family.

(Diversion Program, NCI Thesaurus)