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
Kavanaugh’s position seems at odds with that of Amy Coney Barrett, who prioritized ferreting out a constitutional text’s meaning at the time of ratification over digging up old laws.
—Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 22 June 2024
That census was the first to list the surnames of the formerly enslaved following the ratification of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865.
—Victor Blackwell, CNN, 19 June 2024
After ratification in 1920, Black women joined others in voting and holding office.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 June 2024
After the 1870 ratification of the 15th Amendment, African-Americans were elected to local, state, and federal offices.
—Paul L. Newman, New York Daily News, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ratification 
Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 22 June 2024
That census was the first to list the surnames of the formerly enslaved following the ratification of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865.
—Victor Blackwell, CNN, 19 June 2024
After ratification in 1920, Black women joined others in voting and holding office.
—The Arizona Republic, 4 June 2024
After the 1870 ratification of the 15th Amendment, African-Americans were elected to local, state, and federal offices.
—Paul L. Newman, New York Daily News, 29 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ratification
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ratification.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ratification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratification. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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