referential

adjective

ref·​er·​en·​tial ˌre-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl 

: of, containing, or constituting a reference

especially : pointing to or involving a referent

referential language

referential meaning

referentiality

ˌre-fə-ˌren(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

referentially

ˌre-fə-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of referential in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Matthews started out as Baskin’s assistant before stepping up and putting her own stamp on the format—independently hilarious, often referential and conceptual setups for her subjects. —Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025

Every show from the New York designer is a celebration of craft, and this one felt deeply referential in its call for reflection. —Essence, 14 Feb. 2025

His defenders may see nothing dubious or referential in the gesture; what the posts above imply is that others should also face the same scrutiny for similar gestures, again regardless of their intentions. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

The result is an irreverent, mega-meta, sneakily touching Simpsons episode that’s both gloriously referential and unlike anything the show’s done before. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for referential

• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential