diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/README.md b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/README.md
index 544cbef060..9129cf2bf0 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/README.md
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/README.md
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ Only fully implemented specification objects should be checked here.
 - [x] [Example Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-example-object)
 - [x] [Header Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-header-object)
 - [x] [Tag Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-tag-object)
-- [ ] [Reference Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-reference-object)
+- [x] [Reference Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-reference-object)
 - [ ] [Schema Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-schema-object)
 - [x] [XML Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-xml-object)
 - [ ] [Definitions Object](https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/2.0.md#user-content-definitions-object)
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/elements/Reference.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/elements/Reference.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..74826b4196
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/elements/Reference.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { StringElement, ObjectElement, Attributes, Meta } from '@swagger-api/apidom-core';
+
+class Reference extends ObjectElement {
+  constructor(content?: Record<string, unknown>, meta?: Meta, attributes?: Attributes) {
+    super(content, meta, attributes);
+    this.element = 'reference';
+    this.classes.push('openapi-reference');
+  }
+
+  get $ref(): StringElement | undefined {
+    return this.get('$ref');
+  }
+
+  set $ref($ref: StringElement | undefined) {
+    this.set('$ref', $ref);
+  }
+}
+
+export default Reference;
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/index.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/index.ts
index 707b832f93..82205fbf63 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/index.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export {
   isExampleElement,
   isHeaderElement,
   isTagElement,
+  isReferenceElement,
   isXmlElement,
   isSecurityDefinitionsElement,
   isSecuritySchemeElement,
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ export {
   ExampleElement,
   HeaderElement,
   TagElement,
+  ReferenceElement,
   XmlElement,
   SecurityDefinitionsElement,
   SecuritySchemeElement,
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/namespace.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/namespace.ts
index a164c1f5f9..9e27674cfb 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/namespace.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/namespace.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import HeadersElement from './elements/Headers';
 import HeaderElement from './elements/Header';
 import TagElement from './elements/Tag';
 import XmlElement from './elements/Xml';
+import ReferenceElement from './elements/Reference';
 import SecurityDefinitionsElement from './elements/SecurityDefinitions';
 import SecuritySchemeElement from './elements/SecurityScheme';
 import ScopesElement from './elements/Scopes';
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ const openApi2 = {
     base.register('example', ExampleElement);
     base.register('header', HeaderElement);
     base.register('tag', TagElement);
+    base.register('reference', ReferenceElement);
     base.register('xml', XmlElement);
     base.register('securityDefinitions', SecurityDefinitionsElement);
     base.register('securityScheme', SecuritySchemeElement);
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/predicates.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/predicates.ts
index b5c61a317f..8e39b600f8 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/predicates.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/predicates.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import ExampleElement from './elements/Example';
 import HeadersElement from './elements/Headers';
 import HeaderElement from './elements/Header';
 import TagElement from './elements/Tag';
+import ReferenceElement from './elements/Reference';
 import XmlElement from './elements/Xml';
 import SecurityDefinitionsElement from './elements/SecurityDefinitions';
 import SecuritySchemeElement from './elements/SecurityScheme';
@@ -115,6 +116,16 @@ export const isTagElement = createPredicate(
   },
 );
 
+export const isReferenceElement = createPredicate(
+  ({ hasBasicElementProps, isElementType, primitiveEq }) => {
+    return (element: unknown) =>
+      element instanceof ReferenceElement ||
+      (hasBasicElementProps(element) &&
+        isElementType('reference', element) &&
+        primitiveEq('object', element));
+  },
+);
+
 export const isXmlElement = createPredicate(
   ({ hasBasicElementProps, isElementType, primitiveEq }) => {
     return (element: unknown) =>
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/registration.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/registration.ts
index ca738c0c27..4952752c0b 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/registration.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/registration.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import HeadersElement from '../elements/Headers';
 import ExampleElement from '../elements/Example';
 import HeaderElement from '../elements/Header';
 import TagElement from '../elements/Tag';
+import ReferenceElement from '../elements/Reference';
 import XmlElement from '../elements/Xml';
 import SecurityDefinitionsElement from '../elements/SecurityDefinitions';
 import SecuritySchemeElement from '../elements/SecurityScheme';
@@ -62,6 +63,13 @@ ExampleElement.refract = createRefractor([
 ]);
 HeaderElement.refract = createRefractor(['visitors', 'document', 'objects', 'Header', '$visitor']);
 TagElement.refract = createRefractor(['visitors', 'document', 'objects', 'Tag', '$visitor']);
+ReferenceElement.refract = createRefractor([
+  'visitors',
+  'document',
+  'objects',
+  'Reference',
+  '$visitor',
+]);
 XmlElement.refract = createRefractor(['visitors', 'document', 'objects', 'XML', '$visitor']);
 SecurityDefinitionsElement.refract = createRefractor([
   'visitors',
@@ -97,6 +105,7 @@ export {
   ExampleElement,
   HeaderElement,
   TagElement,
+  ReferenceElement,
   XmlElement,
   SecurityDefinitionsElement,
   SecuritySchemeElement,
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/specification.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/specification.ts
index 31a83943bc..eb5e118881 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/specification.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/specification.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import HeadersVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/headers';
 import ExampleVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/example';
 import HeaderVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/header';
 import TagVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/tag';
+import ReferenceVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/reference';
+import Reference$RefVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/reference/$RefVisitor';
 import SchemaVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/schema';
 import XmlVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/xml';
 import SecurityDefinitionsVisitor from './visitors/open-api-2/security-definitions';
@@ -170,6 +172,12 @@ const specification = {
             },
           },
         },
+        Reference: {
+          $visitor: ReferenceVisitor,
+          fixedFields: {
+            $ref: Reference$RefVisitor,
+          },
+        },
         Schema: {
           $visitor: SchemaVisitor,
         },
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/$RefVisitor.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/$RefVisitor.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b142b7a4ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/$RefVisitor.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import stampit from 'stampit';
+import { StringElement, BREAK, cloneDeep } from '@swagger-api/apidom-core';
+
+import FallbackVisitor from '../../FallbackVisitor';
+
+const $RefVisitor = stampit(FallbackVisitor, {
+  methods: {
+    StringElement(stringElement: StringElement) {
+      this.element = cloneDeep(stringElement);
+      this.element.classes.push('reference-value');
+
+      return BREAK;
+    },
+  },
+});
+
+export default $RefVisitor;
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/index.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..62d8e01e7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/refractor/visitors/open-api-2/reference/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import stampit from 'stampit';
+import { always } from 'ramda';
+import { ObjectElement, isStringElement } from '@swagger-api/apidom-core';
+
+import ReferenceElement from '../../../../elements/Reference';
+import FixedFieldsVisitor from '../../generics/FixedFieldsVisitor';
+import FallbackVisitor from '../../FallbackVisitor';
+
+const ReferenceVisitor = stampit(FixedFieldsVisitor, FallbackVisitor, {
+  props: {
+    specPath: always(['document', 'objects', 'Reference']),
+    canSupportSpecificationExtensions: false,
+  },
+  init() {
+    this.element = new ReferenceElement();
+  },
+  methods: {
+    ObjectElement(objectElement: ObjectElement) {
+      // @ts-ignore
+      const result = FixedFieldsVisitor.compose.methods.ObjectElement.call(this, objectElement);
+
+      // mark this ReferenceElement with reference metadata
+      if (isStringElement(this.element.$ref)) {
+        this.element.classes.push('reference-element');
+      }
+
+      return result;
+    },
+  },
+});
+
+export default ReferenceVisitor;
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/traversal/visitor.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/traversal/visitor.ts
index 792f9ebe8e..75fd170945 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/traversal/visitor.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/src/traversal/visitor.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ export const keyMap = {
   HeadersElement: ['content'],
   HeaderElement: ['content'],
   TagElement: ['content'],
+  ReferenceElement: ['content'],
   XmlElement: ['content'],
   SecurityDefinitionsElement: ['content'],
   SecuritySchemeElement: ['content'],
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/predicates.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/predicates.ts
index c34bde280d..62eef951c7 100644
--- a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/predicates.ts
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/predicates.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   ExampleElement,
   HeaderElement,
   TagElement,
+  ReferenceElement,
   XmlElement,
   SecurityDefinitionsElement,
   SecuritySchemeElement,
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   isExampleElement,
   isHeaderElement,
   isTagElement,
+  isReferenceElement,
   isXmlElement,
   isSecurityDefinitionsElement,
   isSecuritySchemeElement,
@@ -594,6 +596,62 @@ describe('predicates', function () {
     });
   });
 
+  context('isReferenceElement', function () {
+    context('given ReferenceElement instance value', function () {
+      specify('should return true', function () {
+        const element = new ReferenceElement();
+
+        assert.isTrue(isReferenceElement(element));
+      });
+    });
+
+    context('given subtype instance value', function () {
+      specify('should return true', function () {
+        class ReferenceSubElement extends ReferenceElement {}
+
+        assert.isTrue(isReferenceElement(new ReferenceSubElement()));
+      });
+    });
+
+    context('given non ReferenceSubElement instance value', function () {
+      specify('should return false', function () {
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement(1));
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement(null));
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement(undefined));
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement({}));
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement([]));
+        assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement('string'));
+      });
+    });
+
+    specify('should support duck-typing', function () {
+      const referenceElementDuck = {
+        _storedElement: 'reference',
+        _content: [],
+        primitive() {
+          return 'object';
+        },
+        get element() {
+          return this._storedElement;
+        },
+      };
+
+      const referenceElementSwan = {
+        _storedElement: undefined,
+        _content: undefined,
+        primitive() {
+          return 'swan';
+        },
+        get length() {
+          return 0;
+        },
+      };
+
+      assert.isTrue(isReferenceElement(referenceElementDuck));
+      assert.isFalse(isReferenceElement(referenceElementSwan));
+    });
+  });
+
   context('isXmlElement', function () {
     context('given XmlElement instance value', function () {
       specify('should return true', function () {
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9c3b4fc610
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/__snapshots__/index.ts.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
+
+exports[`refractor elements ReferenceElement should refract to semantic ApiDOM tree 1`] = `
+(ReferenceElement
+  (MemberElement
+    (StringElement)
+    (StringElement)))
+`;
diff --git a/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/index.ts b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e454e2dba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/apidom-ns-openapi-2/test/refractor/elements/Reference/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { expect } from 'chai';
+import { sexprs } from '@swagger-api/apidom-core';
+
+import { ReferenceElement } from '../../../../src';
+
+describe('refractor', function () {
+  context('elements', function () {
+    context('ReferenceElement', function () {
+      specify('should refract to semantic ApiDOM tree', function () {
+        const referenceElement = ReferenceElement.refract({
+          $ref: '#/path/to/somewhere',
+        });
+
+        expect(sexprs(referenceElement)).toMatchSnapshot();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});