plebiscite

Meaning

1. A direct popular vote on an issue of public importance, such as an amendment to the constitution, a change in the sovereignty of the nation, or some government policy.
2. (broadly) An expression of the public's views on an issue, whether legally binding or not.
3. (Ancient-Rome, historical) Synonym of plebiscitum (“a law enacted by the common people, under the superintendence of a tribune or some subordinate plebeian magistrate, without the intervention of the senate”).

Synonyms

referendum

popular vote

vote

poll

public opinion

Translations

plébiscite

plebiscito

plebiscito

plebiscito

δημοψήφισμα

Plebiszit

Referendum

Volksabstimmung

référendum

referéndum

referendo

referendum

referendum

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈplɛbɪsaɪt/

Etymology

Cognate with English: plebiscitum

Cognate with Italian: plebiscito

Cognate with Middle French: plebiscite

Cognate with French: plébiscite

Cognate with Middle Low German: plebiscīt

Cognate with Spanish: plebiscito

In summary

Sense 1 (“referendum”) is borrowed from French plébiscite, from Latin plēbiscītum, plēbis scītum, plēbī scītum (“law of the common people or plebs”), from plēbis (the genitive singular of plēbs (“common people, plebeians”)) + scītum (“decree, ordinance, statute”).
Sense 3 (“law enacted by the common people”) is a learned borrowing from Latin plēbiscītum: see above. It is attested earlier than English plebiscitum.
Cognates
* Italian plebiscito
* Middle French plebiscite (modern French plébiscite)
* Middle Low German plebiscīt (“ordinance”)
* Spanish plebiscito, plebisçito (obsolete)