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referent

The definition of a referent is the thing to which something else refers.

(noun)

When someone says"that book,"referring to a well-known and reviled popular book, the well-known and reviled book that is referred to is an example of the referent.

See referent in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

something referred to
Linguis. the object, concept, event, etc. referred to by a term or expression

Origin: < L referens, prp.

See referent in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A person or thing to which a linguistic expression refers.

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