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
The win came after the 30-team ECHL and its players’ union ratified a new five-year collective-bargaining agreement.
—
The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2026
The sides continued to discuss the tax-exempt, legal status of Catholic Church properties in Israel after Israel’s legislature didn’t ratify the pact.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Dec. 2025
As of Monday afternoon, the agreement still had to be ratified by the ECHL board of governors and the player membership of the PHPA union.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
In June, the two sides ratified a new four-year labor deal, more than a year ahead of the expiration of the current CBA.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2026
The sides continued to discuss the tax-exempt, legal status of Catholic Church properties in Israel after Israel’s legislature didn’t ratify the pact.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Dec. 2025
As of Monday afternoon, the agreement still had to be ratified by the ECHL board of governors and the player membership of the PHPA union.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 29 Dec. 2025
In June, the two sides ratified a new four-year labor deal, more than a year ahead of the expiration of the current CBA.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 26 Dec. 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 5 Jan. 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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