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
For the first time in two decades, Real Madrid’s membership will vote rather than simply ratify.
—
Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Netflix Animation Studios feature production workers have officially voted to ratify their first Union contract with The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), with an overwhelming 89% in favor of ratification.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 28 May 2026
During an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting to ratify a local emergency declaration, McGovern said emergency crews and experts who had worked for days to prevent the overheating of the malfunctioning tank reported lower temperatures were holding on Wednesday.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
The ideology emerged at a 1980 youth congress in the Finnish city of Raŭma, where a faction of just under one hundred signatories ratified the Raŭma Manifesto.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Netflix Animation Studios feature production workers have officially voted to ratify their first Union contract with The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), with an overwhelming 89% in favor of ratification.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 28 May 2026
During an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting to ratify a local emergency declaration, McGovern said emergency crews and experts who had worked for days to prevent the overheating of the malfunctioning tank reported lower temperatures were holding on Wednesday.
—Victoria Le, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
The ideology emerged at a 1980 youth congress in the Finnish city of Raŭma, where a faction of just under one hundred signatories ratified the Raŭma Manifesto.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 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 2 Jun. 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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