referential integrity

noun

The property of a relational database that enforces valid relationships between tables, such that no foreign key can contain a value that does not match a primary key in the corresponding linked table.

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Meanings

nounreferential integrity (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputingThe property of a relational database that enforces valid relationships between tables, such that no foreign key can contain a value that does not match a primary key in the corresponding linked table.

Origin

referential + integrity

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French intégrité référentielle
  • intégrité référentiellereferential integrity
German referentielle Integrität
  • referentielle Integritätreferential integrity
Polish integralność referencyjna
  • integralność referencyjnareferential integrity
Romanian integritate referențială
  • integritate referențialăreferential integrity
Turkish ilişkisel bütünlük
  • ilişkisel bütünlükreferential integrity
Cite this entry
APA

referential integrity. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/referential%20integrity

MLA

“referential integrity.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/referential%20integrity. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “referential integrity,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/referential%20integrity.

Source: referential integrity on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.