ratify

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verb rat·i·fy \ˈra-tə-ˌfī\

: to make (a treaty, agreement, etc.) official by signing it or voting for it

rat·i·fiedrat·i·fy·ing

Full Definition of RATIFY

transitive verb

:  to approve and sanction formally :  confirm <ratify a treaty>

— rat·i·fi·ca·tion \ˌra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

— rat·i·fi·er \ˈra-tə-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

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Examples of RATIFY

1. A number of countries have refused to ratify the treaty.
2. <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.>

Origin of RATIFY

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RATIFY

Synonyms

accredit, approbate, authorize, clear, confirm, finalize, formalize, homologate, OK (or okay), approve, sanction, warrant

Antonyms

decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, reject, turn down, veto

Related Words

accept, acknowledge, affirm; certify, endorse (also indorse), validate; bless, canonize, sanctify; initial, rubber-stamp, sign, sign off (on); allow, enable, legalize, license (also licence), pass, permit; reapprove

Near Antonyms

ban, enjoin, forbid, illegalize, interdict, prohibit, proscribe; disregard, ignore, neglect, overlook; rebuff, rebut, refuse, spurn

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism