The term referent has various meanings. One of them is to refer to something, that is, when an object or individual is a reference to something or is related to something. In the same way, we speak of a reference when a person, due to X circumstances, stands out in some activity or profession and therefore becomes the best in what he does, thus becoming an example to follow for those who perform the same work.
For example, when a footballer like Messi who has stood out in all the World Cups, ends up being a benchmark in the sport of football and an example to follow for those young people who are starting in the world of football. The same happens when a writer receives numerous awards for his outstanding literary work, he becomes a benchmark in that area.
Now, when this term is transferred to the field of daily life, that is, in people's social relationships, it is common that all kinds of references usually appear, which somehow end up becoming guides, who serve as help at the moment to make a decision, or who are inspired when they do something. In this sense, parents, teachers and even grandparents, with whom relationships are usually maintained on an ongoing basis, are the ones who assume the role of referents influencing many of the actions that man performs.
In the field of semiotics, for its part, the referent is defined as one of the elements that make up the sign, based on the specific and real object to which reference is made. For example, the referent of the "tree" symbol is a physical element made up of the branches, leaves, the trunk, etc.
