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

A treaty would require two-thirds approval in the Senate for ratification.

—Lois Ember

More 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

Examples of ratification in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All of this is on Blanche, and a vote to confirm him represents a ratification of what has happened on his watch. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026

WestJet did not disclose details of the tentative agreement, which will now be presented to cabin crew members for a ratification vote. — Reuters, NBC news, 3 Aug. 2026

The number of countries in the three federations is more than 140, well above the majority needed to reject the plan required ratification. — Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 31 July 2026

Union members are expected to vote on ratification next week. — Tori Mason, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ratification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

ratification

noun

rat·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion

ˌrat-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

: the action of ratifying