The present disclosure provides a reference signal transmission method, a transmitter and a receiver. The reference signal transmission method includes: precoding, by a transmitter, a data stream for user data through a second precoding matrix so as to acquire D virtual data streams; precoding, by the transmitter, the D virtual data streams through a first precoding matrix, and transmitting the D precoded virtual data streams to a receiver via T antenna groups, each antenna group including one or more antenna units or antenna ports having a same phase noise; transmitting, by the transmitter, D demodulation reference signals to the receiver; and transmitting, by the transmitter, M phase-tracking reference signals to the receiver, the M phase-tracking reference signals being adopted to track phase changes in the T antenna groups caused by one or more phase noise sources.