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

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

Who is wearing referential florals on the red carpet? —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

One especially potent line applies not just to Swift and Healy’s romance but to a generation of young people trapped in an overly nostalgic and referential culture and maybe a little deprived of real-life experience. —Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 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