plebiscite

/plebbisit/

• noun 1 the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question. 2 (in ancient Rome) a law enacted by the plebeians’ assembly.

— DERIVATIVES plebiscitary /plebissitri/ adjective.

— ORIGIN French plébiscite, from Latin plebs ‘the common people’ + scitum ‘decree’.