ratification
noun
rat·i·fi·ca·tion
ˌra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
plural ratifications
: the act or process of ratifying something (such as a treaty or amendment) : formal confirmation or sanction
… the ratification of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States.—
Suzanne Travers
Suzanne TraversA treaty would require two-thirds approval in the Senate for ratification.—Lois Ember
Lois EmberMore than 100 countries signed the Rome Treaty, and it is expected that the court will come into existence within the next year or two, when it receives the necessary sixty treaty ratifications.—Richard Falk
Richard FalkExamples of ratification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some argue that enough states have now approved the amendment, but the U.S. archivist declined to certify it because Congress explicitly set a deadline for ratification that states did not meet.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
In a ratification vote that took ended on Wednesday, 93 percent of participating bargaining unit members voted to support a deal reached on Feb. 13, while 7 percent voted against.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
But experts say the current climate is nothing like the national crisis that engulfed Lincoln's presidency and noted Lincoln later asked for ratification of his decision by Congress and effectively received it after several years.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2025
Even the new constitution of Hungary has been amended 14 times by Fidesz without public debate—something impossible in the United States, where constitutional amendments have been comparatively rare, requiring not only broad congressional approval but a laborious process of state ratification.
—BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratification
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
In a ratification vote that took ended on Wednesday, 93 percent of participating bargaining unit members voted to support a deal reached on Feb. 13, while 7 percent voted against.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2025
But experts say the current climate is nothing like the national crisis that engulfed Lincoln's presidency and noted Lincoln later asked for ratification of his decision by Congress and effectively received it after several years.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2025
Even the new constitution of Hungary has been amended 14 times by Fidesz without public debate—something impossible in the United States, where constitutional amendments have been comparatively rare, requiring not only broad congressional approval but a laborious process of state ratification.
—BÁlint Madlovics, Foreign Affairs, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratification
Cite this Entry
“Ratification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratification. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share