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
While the February deadline may not be a firm one, the government will need a deal in hand well before expiration day so the Arizona Legislature and possibly Congress have time to ratify the details.
—
Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The pressure now shifts to the House, where lawmakers will have to decide whether to swiftly ratify the Senate plan or reopen a deeper fight over immigration and other policy priorities.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
If the board does not ratify the unauthorized commitment, the HOA could require that director to reimburse the HOA for the expense.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The cuts arrive less than six years after the museum eliminated more than a hundred jobs through voluntary early retirement and layoffs, and four years after unionized employees ratified their first contract with the institution under the auspices of United Auto Workers 2110.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
The pressure now shifts to the House, where lawmakers will have to decide whether to swiftly ratify the Senate plan or reopen a deeper fight over immigration and other policy priorities.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
If the board does not ratify the unauthorized commitment, the HOA could require that director to reimburse the HOA for the expense.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The cuts arrive less than six years after the museum eliminated more than a hundred jobs through voluntary early retirement and layoffs, and four years after unionized employees ratified their first contract with the institution under the auspices of United Auto Workers 2110.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
Cite this Entry
“Ratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratify. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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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