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
Sister Jean was born in San Francisco in 1919 — the year Congress approved women’s right to vote, Prohibition was ratified and the White Sox threw the World Series.
—
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The union said its negotiators have reached a tentative agreement with the airline, which will be presented to the members, who will need to ratify it.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The Virginia High School League ratified a policy to prevent transgender women from playing in high school girls’ sports in May.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2025
Commissioners reluctantly agreed to ratify County Mayor Jerry Demings’ hasty decision to sign an agreement that would allow jail employees to transport immigration violators to federal detention facilities, including the infamous Alligator Alcatraz in the middle of the Everglades.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The union said its negotiators have reached a tentative agreement with the airline, which will be presented to the members, who will need to ratify it.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The Virginia High School League ratified a policy to prevent transgender women from playing in high school girls’ sports in May.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2025
Commissioners reluctantly agreed to ratify County Mayor Jerry Demings’ hasty decision to sign an agreement that would allow jail employees to transport immigration violators to federal detention facilities, including the infamous Alligator Alcatraz in the middle of the Everglades.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 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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