Referent
/ˈɹɛf(ə)ɹənt/
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Definition
(noun) The specific entity in the world that a word or phrase identifies or denotes: what it refers to.
Sentence Examples
The word has a clear and direct referent in the real world.
We need to clarify the referent of the pronoun in the sentence.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In linguistics, the ____ is the actual object or concept that a word or phrase refers to.