ˈɹidɚ ˈɹiːdə ɹɛf ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː ˌɹɛfəˈɹiː ˌɹɛf.əˈɹiː ˌɹɛfəˈɹiː ˈʌm.paɪ.ə(ɹ) evaluate professionally a colleague's work be a referee or umpire in a sports competition (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or American football) who is expected to ensure fair play an attorney appointed by a court to investigate and report on a case someone who reads manuscripts and judges their suitability for publication