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
Nonfiction entertainment workers who are members of the Writers Guild of America East have ratified a first union agreement with prestige documentary company Story Syndicate.
—
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter has rushed to arrange a commission vote, ratifying it.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025
The Bluegrass State didn't symbolically ratify the 13th Amendment until March 18, 1976 − when Gerald Ford was president.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Ultimately, all big calls at Newcastle are ratified by Al-Rumayyan, but the board is expected to make a recommendation to the chairman.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 24 June 2025
Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter has rushed to arrange a commission vote, ratifying it.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025
The Bluegrass State didn't symbolically ratify the 13th Amendment until March 18, 1976 − when Gerald Ford was president.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 20 June 2025
Ultimately, all big calls at Newcastle are ratified by Al-Rumayyan, but the board is expected to make a recommendation to the chairman.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 19 June 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 1 Jul. 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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