›UK(USreference)HRa person who knows you and who is willing to describe your character and abilities in order to support you when you are trying to get a job, etc.: give/name/list sb as a refereePeople who have attended the courses can always give the course tutor as a referee.Applications in the form of a CV should include the names of two referees.
›a person or an organization that helps to find a fair answer to a disagreement: That law is designed to sort out the finances of an overextended debtor, with a judge acting as referee to protect the interests of creditors.
›a person who checks a technical document before it is published: Technical referees are experts in their field and eminently suitable to comment on the scientific soundness of the proposal.
›(alsoreferee in case of need)COMMERCEa person whose name is on a bill of exchange (= document ordering payment at a particular time for goods or services) and who can be asked for payment if the bill is not paid: The holder may exercise his right of presenting the bill of exchange to the referee in case of need.