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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Referendum \Ref`er*en"dum\ (r?f`?r*?n"d?m), n.; pl. {-da}
[Gerundive fr. L. referre. See {Refer}.]
1. A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his
government concerning a particular matter or point.
[1913 Webster]

2. The right to approve or reject by popular vote a meassure
passed upon by a legislature.
[1913 Webster]

3. The principle or practice of referring measures passed
upon by the legislative body to the body of voters, or
electorate, for approval or rejection, as in the Swiss
cantons (except Freiburg) and in various local governments
in the United States, and also in the local option laws,
etc.; also, the right to so approve or reject laws, or the
vote by which this is done. Referendum is distinguished
from the mandate, or instruction of representatives by the
people, from direct government by the people, in which
they initiate and make the laws by direct action without
representation, and from a plebiscite, or popular vote
taken on any measure proposed by a person or body having
the initiative but not constituting a representative or
constituent body.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]