diff --git a/.github/docs/openapi3.txt b/.github/docs/openapi3.txt
index 09f1192a..2642861f 100644
--- a/.github/docs/openapi3.txt
+++ b/.github/docs/openapi3.txt
@@ -1228,11 +1228,22 @@ func URIMapCache(reader ReadFromURIFunc) ReadFromURIFunc
     documents.
 
 type Ref struct {
-	Ref string `json:"$ref" yaml:"$ref"`
+	Ref        string         `json:"$ref" yaml:"$ref"`
+	Extensions map[string]any `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
 }
     Ref is specified by OpenAPI/Swagger 3.0 standard. See
     https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/3.0.3.md#reference-object
 
+func (x Ref) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error)
+    MarshalJSON returns the JSON encoding of Ref.
+
+func (x Ref) MarshalYAML() (any, error)
+    MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of Ref.
+
+func (e *Ref) Validate(ctx context.Context, opts ...ValidationOption) error
+    Validate returns an error if Extensions does not comply with the OpenAPI
+    spec.
+
 type RefNameResolver func(*T, ComponentRef) string
     RefNameResolver maps a component to an name that is used as it's
     internalized name.
diff --git a/openapi3/ref.go b/openapi3/ref.go
index 07060731..e77fcff6 100644
--- a/openapi3/ref.go
+++ b/openapi3/ref.go
@@ -1,9 +1,42 @@
 package openapi3
 
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+)
+
 //go:generate go run refsgenerator.go
 
 // Ref is specified by OpenAPI/Swagger 3.0 standard.
 // See https://github.com/OAI/OpenAPI-Specification/blob/main/versions/3.0.3.md#reference-object
 type Ref struct {
-	Ref string `json:"$ref" yaml:"$ref"`
+	Ref        string         `json:"$ref" yaml:"$ref"`
+	Extensions map[string]any `json:"-" yaml:"-"`
+}
+
+// MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of Ref.
+func (x Ref) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
+	m := make(map[string]any, 1+len(x.Extensions))
+	for k, v := range x.Extensions {
+		m[k] = v
+	}
+	if x := x.Ref; x != "" {
+		m["$ref"] = x
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+// MarshalJSON returns the JSON encoding of Ref.
+func (x Ref) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	y, err := x.MarshalYAML()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return json.Marshal(y)
+}
+
+// Validate returns an error if Extensions does not comply with the OpenAPI spec.
+func (e *Ref) Validate(ctx context.Context, opts ...ValidationOption) error {
+	ctx = WithValidationOptions(ctx, opts...)
+	return validateExtensions(ctx, e.Extensions)
 }
diff --git a/openapi3/refs.go b/openapi3/refs.go
index d337b0e3..f1820552 100644
--- a/openapi3/refs.go
+++ b/openapi3/refs.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (x *CallbackRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of CallbackRef.
 func (x CallbackRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func (x *ExampleRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of ExampleRef.
 func (x ExampleRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func (x *HeaderRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of HeaderRef.
 func (x HeaderRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ func (x *LinkRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of LinkRef.
 func (x LinkRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ func (x *ParameterRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of ParameterRef.
 func (x ParameterRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ func (x *RequestBodyRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of RequestBodyRef.
 func (x RequestBodyRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ func (x *ResponseRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of ResponseRef.
 func (x ResponseRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ func (x *SchemaRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of SchemaRef.
 func (x SchemaRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
@@ -1141,7 +1141,7 @@ func (x *SecuritySchemeRef) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of SecuritySchemeRef.
 func (x SecuritySchemeRef) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
diff --git a/openapi3/refs.tmpl b/openapi3/refs.tmpl
index a3f5bdab..0a443e84 100644
--- a/openapi3/refs.tmpl
+++ b/openapi3/refs.tmpl
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (x *{{ $type.Name }}Ref) setRefPath(u *url.URL) {
 // MarshalYAML returns the YAML encoding of {{ $type.Name }}Ref.
 func (x {{ $type.Name }}Ref) MarshalYAML() (any, error) {
 	if ref := x.Ref; ref != "" {
-		return &Ref{Ref: ref}, nil
+		return &Ref{Ref: ref, Extensions: x.Extensions}, nil
 	}
 	return x.Value.MarshalYAML()
 }
diff --git a/openapi3/refs_test.go b/openapi3/refs_test.go
index b6de316f..89ad64e1 100644
--- a/openapi3/refs_test.go
+++ b/openapi3/refs_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestCallbackRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := CallbackRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -34,6 +35,12 @@ func TestCallbackRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -51,6 +58,7 @@ func TestCallbackRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestExampleRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := ExampleRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -73,6 +81,12 @@ func TestExampleRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -90,6 +104,7 @@ func TestExampleRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestHeaderRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := HeaderRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -112,6 +127,12 @@ func TestHeaderRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -121,6 +142,7 @@ func TestHeaderRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestLinkRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := LinkRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -143,6 +165,12 @@ func TestLinkRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -160,6 +188,7 @@ func TestLinkRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestParameterRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := ParameterRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -182,6 +211,12 @@ func TestParameterRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -199,6 +234,7 @@ func TestParameterRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestRequestBodyRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := RequestBodyRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -221,6 +257,12 @@ func TestRequestBodyRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -238,6 +280,7 @@ func TestRequestBodyRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestResponseRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := ResponseRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -260,6 +303,12 @@ func TestResponseRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -277,6 +326,7 @@ func TestResponseRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestSchemaRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := SchemaRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -299,6 +349,12 @@ func TestSchemaRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
@@ -316,6 +372,7 @@ func TestSchemaRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestSecuritySchemeRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := SecuritySchemeRef{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -338,6 +395,12 @@ func TestSecuritySchemeRef_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)
diff --git a/openapi3/refs_test.tmpl b/openapi3/refs_test.tmpl
index 634fccf6..a11e1769 100644
--- a/openapi3/refs_test.tmpl
+++ b/openapi3/refs_test.tmpl
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 {{ range $type := .Types }}
 func Test{{ $type.Name }}Ref_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	data := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","something":"integer","x-order":1}`)
+	expectMarshalJson := []byte(`{"$ref":"#/components/schemas/Pet","x-order":1}`)
 
 	ref := {{ $type.Name }}Ref{}
 	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &ref)
@@ -34,6 +35,12 @@ func Test{{ $type.Name }}Ref_Extensions(t *testing.T) {
 	err = ref.Validate(context.Background(), AllowExtraSiblingFields("something"))
 	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "found unresolved ref") // expected since value not defined
 
+	// Verify round trip JSON
+	// Compare as string to make error message more readable if different
+	outJson, err := ref.MarshalJSON()
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, string(outJson), string(expectMarshalJson), "MarshalJSON output is not the same as input data")
+
 	// non-extension not json lookable
 	_, err = ref.JSONLookup("something")
 	assert.Error(t, err)