##  [Referential Drift](/index.php/referential-drift) 

  ##  [Referential Drift](https://humanitites.quantumdictionary.io/referential-drift-0) 

  

 [![Humanities & Arts Dictionary](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2026-01/Humanities%20%26%20Arts.png.webp?itok=4SMNHqFS)](/index.php/topic-specific-dictionaries/humanities-arts)



**Humanities & Arts Dictionary**

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Definition

The phenomenon whereby the denoted referent(s) of a linguistic expression shift over time, across communities, or between contexts so that the expression’s putative object no longer aligns reliably with earlier uses, producing ambiguity or misalignment in reference.