referee

/ˈrɛfəˌri/

/refəˈri/

Other forms: referees; refereeing; refereed

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.

Definitions of referee

1. noun

   (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
2. verb

   be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
   synonyms: umpire

   type of:

   judge

   determine the result of (a competition)
3. noun

   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
4. noun

   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
5. verb

   evaluate professionally a colleague's work
   synonyms: peer review

   type of:

   critique, review

   appraise critically