HealthJuly 17, 2026
referent
/ˈrɛfərənt/
Definition
In statistics and research methodology, a control or baseline period used for comparison against an event or exposure period.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'referens,' the present participle of 'referre,' meaning 'to carry back' or 'to refer.' It entered English in the late 19th century as a term for something to which a sign or reference points.
In the news
The authors refer to 'referent selection strategies' when discussing case-crossover study designs, where specific time periods are chosen as controls to compare against the timing of mortality events.
Nationwide impact of heat on suicide and homicide in Mexico and Brazil
Read the full article ↗Nature