referee someone who makes sure that the rules of a sport are obeyed in soccer, American football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball, boxing, or wrestling:
a football referee The referee blew his whistle to stop the game.umpire someone who makes sure that the rules are obeyed in baseball, cricket, tennis, or hockey:
He was given several warnings by the umpire. a tennis umpirejudge someone who decides the result of a competition or sporting contest:
There will be only one winner and the judges’ decision is final. A panel of judges will evaluate the dancers' performance.arbitrator someone who officially decides how an argument between two opposing sides should be settled:
They insisted that an independent arbitrator must settle the dispute. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲