referent
nounUK /ˈɹɛf(ə)ɹənt/ · US /ˈɹɛf(ə)ɹənt/
Etymology From refer + -ent.
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences, Semantics The specific entity in the world that a word or phrase identifies or denotes: what it refers to.
- For quotations using this term, see Citations:referent.
2
That which is referenced.
- Derived terms
- absent referent, nonreferent, referentless
- Related terms
- coreferent, refer, reference, referential, referral, referrer, antecedent