Referendum vs Voting

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Referendum

Formal Top 5,000 (fairly common) C1 noun

Voting

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 noun

Most formal: Referendum Most common: Voting

	Referendum	Voting
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˌrefəˈrendəm/","/ˌrefəˈrendə/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˌrefəˈrendəm/","/ˌrefəˈrendə/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈvəʊtɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈvəʊtɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	A vote where people decide on a specific issue.	Choosing someone for a position by marking a paper or using a machine.
Example	The country held a referendum to decide whether to remain in the international union.	He was eliminated in the first round of voting.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	C1	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	planned, proposed, popular, conduct, hold, put something to, show something, approve something, fail, proposal, campaign, process, in a/​the referendum, referendum on, the result of a referendum	cast a vote, voting rights, early voting, absentee voting
Antonyms	appointment, delegation	abstention, nonvoting, boycott
Common mistakes	Confused with 'referenda' when referring to multiple instances., Using it in informal settings where simpler terms are more appropriate., Mispronouncing the word due to its formal nature.	Confused with 'votting', which is not a word., Using 'voting' in past tense incorrectly; should say 'voted' instead., Mixing up 'voting' with 'electioning', which is also incorrect.
Usage notes	Use 'referendum' in political or formal contexts. It's not commonly used in casual conversation.	Commonly used in democratic elections. Avoid in informal settings unless discussing politics or current events.

See it in real clips

Let's put it to a vote. CROWD: Yes!

Um, all those voting guilty, raise your hands.

Let's put it to a vote. CROWD: Yes!

Um, all those voting guilty, raise your hands.

Voting

Frequently asked questions: Referendum vs Voting

What's the difference between Referendum and Voting?

Referendum: A vote where people decide on a specific issue. Voting: Choosing someone for a position by marking a paper or using a machine.

Which is more formal: Referendum and Voting?

Referendum is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Referendum and Voting?

Voting is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Referendum and Voting?

Referendum is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Referendum and Voting the same CEFR level?

Referendum: C1, Voting: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Referendum and Voting?

Referendum: noun, Voting: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Referendum: The country held a referendum to decide whether to remain in the international union. Voting: He was eliminated in the first round of voting.

Can I use Referendum and Voting interchangeably?

Not always. Referendum and Voting are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.