ratify
verb
rat·i·fy
ˈra-tə-ˌfī 
ratified; ratifying
: to approve and sanction formally : confirm
ratify a treaty
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
These writers will work under the latest Public Television Freelance Agreement, which the WGA East ratified in December after a lengthy and sometimes contentious negotiation cycle with PBS, narrowly avoiding a strike.
—
Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
The council also ratified a $100,000 donation previously earmarked for immigrant aid.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Producers and engineers at the company just ratified their first three-year collective bargaining agreement.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Union and district officials reached tentative agreements in early August after several months of negotiations and union members voted to ratify them later that month, ahead of the current school year.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
The council also ratified a $100,000 donation previously earmarked for immigrant aid.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
Producers and engineers at the company just ratified their first three-year collective bargaining agreement.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Union and district officials reached tentative agreements in early August after several months of negotiations and union members voted to ratify them later that month, ahead of the current school year.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
Cite this Entry
“Ratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratify. Accessed 13 Sep. 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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