ratification
noun
rat·i·fi·ca·tion
ˌra-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
plural ratifications
: the act or process of ratifying something (such as a treaty or amendment) : formal confirmation or sanction
… the ratification of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States.—
Suzanne Travers
Suzanne TraversA treaty would require two-thirds approval in the Senate for ratification.—Lois Ember
Lois EmberMore than 100 countries signed the Rome Treaty, and it is expected that the court will come into existence within the next year or two, when it receives the necessary sixty treaty ratifications.—Richard Falk
Richard FalkExamples of ratification in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Directors Guild of America is one step closer to sealing the deal on a new four-year contract with the major film and television studios after union’s National Board of Directors unanimously voted to recommend ratification to the membership this week.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 June 2026
What prompted it to happen, and what is the course by which the Fourteenth Amendment moves from idea on a drawing board to passage by Congress to ratification by the states?
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Pay increases for the last two years will be equivalent to increases from the National Oil Bargaining Program in 2030, and union employees would receive a one-time lump sum payment after ratification, ranging between $2,500 and $10,000.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Ever since the ratification of the 14th Amendment in the wake of the Civil War, the justices have played the role of reviewing not only federal but also state laws for conformity with the Constitution.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratification
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 June 2026
What prompted it to happen, and what is the course by which the Fourteenth Amendment moves from idea on a drawing board to passage by Congress to ratification by the states?
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
Pay increases for the last two years will be equivalent to increases from the National Oil Bargaining Program in 2030, and union employees would receive a one-time lump sum payment after ratification, ranging between $2,500 and $10,000.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2026
Ever since the ratification of the 14th Amendment in the wake of the Civil War, the justices have played the role of reviewing not only federal but also state laws for conformity with the Constitution.
—Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratification
Cite this Entry
“Ratification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratification. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
