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
Under Serbian law, the resignation must be ratified by the Parliament, which now has 30 days to either select a new government or call for a snap election.
—
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Only three — Iran, Yemen and Libya — have not ratified or updated their portion.
—Thais Lopez Vogel, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Mbappe bought them out for around €15million (£12.7m; $15.7m at current rates), the deal formally ratified on September 9.
—Jack Lang, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Sachs, who is the Antonin Scalia Professor of Law at Harvard Law, poured cold water on the idea of Ogles’ resolution surviving a vote in Congress — much less among the states needed to ratify such an amendment.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ratify 
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Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Only three — Iran, Yemen and Libya — have not ratified or updated their portion.
—Thais Lopez Vogel, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
Mbappe bought them out for around €15million (£12.7m; $15.7m at current rates), the deal formally ratified on September 9.
—Jack Lang, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Sachs, who is the Antonin Scalia Professor of Law at Harvard Law, poured cold water on the idea of Ogles’ resolution surviving a vote in Congress — much less among the states needed to ratify such an amendment.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 24 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 7 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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