referee - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

That guy on the field in black and white stripes? He's a referee, an official in a sport like football or basketball who enforces the rules.

In sports, referees are there to make sure the rules are followed and everyone gets a fair shake. This word works as both a noun and a verb: referees referee games. Off the court, the world is full of everyday referees. A court appointed lawyer who investigates and reports on a case is a referee. And academics who evaluate each other's work are referees. In all cases, referees get to make official calls on what's OK and not OK.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: referee

1	n v	(sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
2	n	an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case
3	n v	someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication evaluate professionally a colleague's work

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: referee

1

n (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play

Synonyms:: ref

Type of:: official
someone who administers the rules of a game or sport

v be a referee or umpire in a sports competition

Synonyms:: umpire

Type of:: judge
determine the result of (a competition)

2

n an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case

Type of:: attorney, lawyer
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

3

n someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication

Synonyms:: reader, reviewer

Types:: scanner
someone who scans verse to determine the number and prosodic value of the syllables

Type of:: critic
anyone who expresses a reasoned judgment of something

v evaluate professionally a colleague's work

Synonyms:: peer review

Type of:: critique, review
appraise critically