ratify
verb
rat·i·fy
ˈra-tə-ˌfī 
ratified; ratifying
: to approve and sanction formally : confirm
ratify a treaty
Synonyms
Examples of ratify in a Sentence
A number of countries have refused to ratify the treaty.
Lincoln's home state of Illinois was the first to ratify the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided for the abolition of slavery.
Recent Examples on the Web
The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt's record-setting tenure in office, currently states that no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.
—
Charna Flam, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
The Prior Lake City Council approved the reinstatement of school resource officers (SROs) at its March 26 meeting, and the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board is scheduled to vote on ratifying the agreement on April 8.
—Jacqueline Devine, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
What's next: Nurses will remain on the picket line until the new contract is ratified.
—Kale Williams, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
Once passed through Congress, the amendment must be ratified by at least 38 states.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ratify 
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Charna Flam, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025
The Prior Lake City Council approved the reinstatement of school resource officers (SROs) at its March 26 meeting, and the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board is scheduled to vote on ratifying the agreement on April 8.
—Jacqueline Devine, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
What's next: Nurses will remain on the picket line until the new contract is ratified.
—Kale Williams, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
Once passed through Congress, the amendment must be ratified by at least 38 states.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ratify
Dictionary Entries Near ratify
Cite this Entry
“Ratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratify. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ratify
verb
rat·i·fy
ˈrat-ə-ˌfī
ratified; ratifying
: to give legal or official approval to
ratify a treaty
Legal Definition
ratify
transitive verb
rat·i·fy
ˈra-tə-ˌfī
ratified; ratifying
: to make valid or effective
especially
: to adopt or affirm (as the prior act or contract of an agent) by express or implied consent with the effect of original authorization
unable to rescind the contract because he ratified it by accepting the benefits
compare reform
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