Refer vs. Referral — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 17, 2024
"Refer" means to direct someone to a source for information or help, whereas "referral" is the act or instance of referring someone, typically for further assistance or information.
Difference Between Refer and Referral
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Key Differences
"Refer" is a verb used when one directs someone to another source for information, guidance, or services. For example, a doctor might refer a patient to a specialist. "Referral," on the other hand, is a noun that denotes the act or instance of referring someone. When the doctor gives the patient the contact details of the specialist, that act is a referral.
In professional contexts, "refer" is often an action taken by individuals to guide someone to another expert or service. For instance, in a job setting, an employee might refer a colleague to the human resources department for assistance. Conversely, a "referral" in this scenario would be the actual process or document that facilitates this action.
"Refer" can be used in various fields, including medical, educational, and business sectors, indicating an active process of guidance. Meanwhile, "referral" typically signifies a more formalized and documented instance of this guidance, such as a referral letter or form.
When someone says they will "refer" you to someone else, they are about to take an action. Whereas, when they talk about a "referral," they refer to the result or product of that action, such as a document or recommendation.
In conversation, you might hear "I'll refer you to a specialist," indicating an upcoming action. Conversely, you might hear "I received a referral from my doctor," which points to the completed act of being referred.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb
Noun
Definition
To direct someone to a source
The act or instance of referring
Usage Example
"I'll refer you to a specialist."
"I received a referral to a specialist."
Context
Action of guiding or directing
Result of the action
Common Fields
Medical, educational, business
Medical, business, customer service
Compare with Definitions
Refer
To direct someone to another person or place for help.
The teacher will refer the student to a counselor.
Referral
The act of referring someone to another person or place.
The referral to a specialist was necessary.
Refer
To send someone to another source for information.
She referred me to a great website for recipes.
Referral
A document or letter that refers someone.
I got a referral from my GP.
Refer
To relate to or concern.
The guidelines refer to all employees.
Referral
The person who is referred.
The clinic accepts referrals from other doctors.
Refer
To assign to a committee or an authority.
The issue was referred to the ethics committee.
Referral
The process of directing someone for further assistance.
Referral is common in medical practice.
Refer
To direct to a source for help or information
Referred her to a heart specialist.
Referred me to his last employer for a recommendation.
Referral
To direct to a source for help or information
Referred her to a heart specialist.
Referred me to his last employer for a recommendation.
Refer
To submit (a matter in dispute) to an authority for arbitration, decision, or examination.
Referral
To submit (a matter in dispute) to an authority for arbitration, decision, or examination.
Refer
To direct the attention of
I refer you to the training manual.
Referral
To direct the attention of
I refer you to the training manual.
Refer
To assign or attribute to; regard as originated by.
Referral
To assign or attribute to; regard as originated by.
Refer
To assign to or regard as belonging within a particular kind or class
Referred the newly discovered partita to the 1600s.
Referral
To assign to or regard as belonging within a particular kind or class
Referred the newly discovered partita to the 1600s.
Refer
To relate or pertain; concern
Questions referring to yesterday's lecture.
Referral
To relate or pertain; concern
Questions referring to yesterday's lecture.
Refer
To serve as a descriptor or have as a denotation
The word chair refers to a piece of furniture.
Referral
To serve as a descriptor or have as a denotation
The word chair refers to a piece of furniture.
Refer
To speak or write about something briefly or incidentally; make reference
Referred during our conversation to several books he was reading.
Referral
To speak or write about something briefly or incidentally; make reference
Referred during our conversation to several books he was reading.
Refer
To turn one's attention, as in seeking information
Refer to a dictionary.
Referral
To turn one's attention, as in seeking information
Refer to a dictionary.
Refer
(transitive) To direct the attention of (someone toward something)
The shop assistant referred me to the help desk on ground floor.
Referral
The act or process of transferring someone or something to another, of sending by reference, or referring.
The insurance company insists I get a referral from my regular doctor. I can't just go to the specialist; a GP has got to refer me.
Refer
(transitive) To submit to (another person or group) for consideration; to send or direct elsewhere.
He referred the matter to the principal.
To refer a patient to a psychiatrist
Referral
(slang) A document used by schools detailing some form of a student's misbehavior and listing the actions taken before and after the student's receipt of the referral.
After misbehaving in class, George was given a referral for disrupting class and sent to the office.
Refer
To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation.
He referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
Referral
A recommendation to consult the (professional) person referred to;
This patient is a referral from Dr. Bones
Refer
(intransitive) To mention (something); to direct attention (to something)
To explain the problem, the teacher referred to an example in another textbook.
Referral
The act of referring (as forwarding an applicant for employment or referring a matter to an appropriate agency)
Refer
To make reference to; to be about; to relate to; to regard; to allude to.
The recipe referred to several unusual ingredients.
Referral
A recommendation to someone or something.
The referral came from a trusted source.
Refer
(grammar) To be referential to another element in a sentence.
Refer
To point to either a specific location in computer memory or to a specific object. to
In C, the pointer obtained by
&a refers to the variable a.Refer
Required to resit an examination.
Smith's marks in the finals were unsatisfactory and he was referred.
Refer
(journalism) A blurb on the front page of a newspaper issue or section that refers the reader to the full story inside the issue or section by listing its slug or headline and its page number.
Refer
To carry or send back.
Refer
Hence: To send or direct away; to send or direct elsewhere, as for treatment, aid, information, decision, etc.; to make over, or pass over, to another; as, to refer a student to an author; to refer a beggar to an officer; to refer a bill to a committee; a court refers a matter of fact to a commissioner for investigation, or refers a question of law to a superior tribunal.
Refer
To place in or under by a mental or rational process; to assign to, as a class, a cause, source, a motive, reason, or ground of explanation; as, he referred the phenomena to electrical disturbances.
I'll refer me to all things sense.
Refer
To have recourse; to apply; to appeal; to betake one's self; as, to refer to a dictionary.
In suits . . . it is to refer to some friend of trust.
Refer
To have relation or reference; to relate; to point; as, the figure refers to a footnote.
Of those places that refer to the shutting and opening the abyss, I take notice of that in Job.
Refer
To carry the mind or thought; to direct attention; as, the preacher referred to the late election.
Refer
To direct inquiry for information or a guarantee of any kind, as in respect to one's integrity, capacity, pecuniary ability, and the like; as, I referred to his employer for the truth of his story.
Now to the universal whole advert:The earth regard as of that whole a part.
Refer
Make reference to;
His name was mentioned in connection with the invention
Refer
Have to do with or be relevant to;
There were lots of questions referring to her talk
My remark pertained to your earlier comments
Refer
Think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or with a general group or in relation to another;
This plant can be referred to a known species
Refer
Send or direct for treatment, information, or a decision;
Refer a patient to a specialist
Refer a bill to a committee
Refer
Seek information from;
You should consult the dictionary
Refer to your notes
Refer
Have as a meaning;
`multi-' denotes `many'
Refer
To mention or allude to something.
He referred to his notes during the speech.
Common Curiosities
Can "refer" imply recommendation?
Yes, "refer" can imply recommending someone or something.
Does "referral" involve formal documentation?
Often, but not always. A referral can be formal or informal.
What is a "referral"?
A "referral" is the act or instance of referring someone, or the document used to refer someone.
Can "refer" be used in non-medical contexts?
Yes, "refer" can be used in any context where someone is directed to another source or person.
What part of speech is "refer"?
"Refer" is a verb.
Is "referral" commonly used in business?
Yes, referrals are common in business, especially in customer service and sales.
What does "refer" mean?
"Refer" means to direct someone to another person, place, or source for help or information.
Can a "referral" be a person?
Yes, a "referral" can refer to the person being referred.
Is a "referral" always a document?
No, a "referral" can also be the act of referring someone, not just the document.
What part of speech is "referral"?
"Referral" is a noun.
Does "refer" require action?
Yes, it implies an action of directing someone.
Is "referral" a result?
Yes, it is the result of the act of referring.
Can "refer" be used in legal contexts?
Yes, "refer" can be used in legal contexts, such as referring a case to a higher court.
Is "refer" always about people?
No, "refer" can be about directing to any source, not just people.
Can you "refer" without giving a "referral"?
Yes, one can verbally refer someone without providing a formal referral document.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
