referee meaning and definition

REFEREE noun

Definition of referee (noun)

1. (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play
   • synonyms: ref
2. someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication
   • synonyms: reader, reviewer
3. an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case

REFEREE verb

Definition of referee (verb)

1. be a referee or umpire in a sports competition
   • synonyms: umpire
2. evaluate professionally a colleague's work
   • synonyms: peer review