Meaning of the word ref in English

What does ref mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

ref

US /ref/
UK /ref/

Noun

a referee, especially in sports

Example:
The football ref blew his whistle for a foul.
The basketball ref made a controversial call.

Verb

to act as a referee in a game or match

Example:
He agreed to ref the charity football match.
It's a tough game to ref, with so many fouls.