Synonyms for referee
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
An umpire or judge; an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game.
The referee kicked Jim out of the game for fighting.
- n. 2
A person who settles a dispute.
Related words
- Word family
- ref
Forms
- Plural
- referees → reviewers, readers, arbitrators, arbiters…
Choose the right word
A referee is appointed by a court to decide disputed matters between litigants; an arbitrator is chosen by the contending parties to decide matters in dispute without action by a court.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- reader This poem calls for great insight from the reader.
- reviewer The reviewer is sharply critical of the novel.
- arbitrator Ziri acted as an arbitrator.
- arbiter An arbiter is a fair and impartial determiner of fact.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| referee | falling | |
| reader | steady | |
| reviewer | steady | |
| arbitrator | falling | |
| arbiter | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- ref1
- 5 letters
- judge1
- 6 letters
- reader2
- 7 letters
- arbiter3
- 8 letters
- reviewer3
- 10 letters
- arbitrator4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (reader2 = 2 syllables).