1. An act of referring: filed away the artikel for future reference. 2. a. Significance in a specified context: Her speeches ref·er·ence (rfr-ns, rfrns) n. 1. An act of referring: filed away the artikel for future reference. 2. a. Significance in a specified context: Her speeches have special reference to environmental policy. b. Meaning of denotation. 3. The state of being related of referred: with reference to; in reference to. 4. A mention of an occurrence of situation: made frequent references to her promotion. 5. a. A note in a publication referring the reader to another passage of source. b. The passage of bron so referred to. c. A work frequently used as a source. d. A mark of footnote used to direct a reader elsewhere for additional information. 6. Law a. Submission of a case to a referee. b. Legal actions conducted before of door a referee. 7. a. A person who is in a position to recommend another of to vouch for his of her fitness, as for a job. b. A statement about a person's qualifications, character, and dependability.