# referee

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː/ · frequency rank #8,848

## Definitions
1. An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
2. A person who settles a dispute.
3. A person who writes a letter of reference or provides a reference by phone call for someone. US English: reference.
4. An expert who judges the manuscript of an article or book to decide if it should be published.

## Etymology
From Middle English [Term?], from past participle of Old French referer (“to relate, to refer”), from Latin referre (“to carry back, to report, to notify”); as if refer + -ee, that is, the person to whom something is referred for consideration.

## Easily confused with
- **revere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-revere)
- **reserve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-reserve)
- **reverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-reverse)
- **refugee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-refugee)
- **revered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-revered)
- **retiree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-retiree)
- **reverie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-reverie)
- **referred** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-referred)
- **reference** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-reference)
- **refer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refer-vs-referee)

## Common misspellings (9)
`erferee`, `reefree`, `refeere`, `refere`, `referree`, `refferee`, `refreee`, `rfeeree`, `rreferee`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/referee