ratify

verb

rat·​i·​fy ˈra-tə-ˌfī 

ratified; ratifying

transitive verb

: to approve and sanction formally : confirm

ratify a treaty

ratifier

ˈra-tə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• accredit
• approbate
• approve
• authorize
• clear
• confirm
• finalize
• formalize
• homologate
• OK
• okay
• sanction
• warrant

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

Only 27 amendments have been ratified throughout U.S. history, most recently in 1992. —Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024

The Phi Beta Kappa Society remains the oldest academic honor society in the U.S. 1933: Prohibition ended with ratification of the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the nation’s only amendment of 27 ratified to have repealed another amendment. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024

Neither the agreement nor the sidebar later have been ratified by the U.N. Security Council, which held closed-door consultations on the matter Wednesday. —Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024

In arguing to get the 2018 package reinstated, Tesla's lawyers pointed out that the company's shareholders had voted to ratify it again in June, five months after McCormick's initial ruling to void the package. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ratifien, from Anglo-French ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificare, from Latin ratus determined, from past participle of reri to calculate — more at reason entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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

ratification

ˌra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

ratifier

ˈra-tə-ˌfī-ər 

noun