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 agreement was ratified by union membership and is pending final execution, according to a statement from union President Fadi Hasan and Vice President JP Garrity.
—
Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
On a straight party-line vote Wednesday morning, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ratified the nomination of former New Mexico congressman Stevan Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 Mar. 2026
Argentina and Uruguay, two other members of the bloc, have already ratified the deal, which was under negotiation for more than 25 years.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
It has been fully ratified, but not signed into the Constitution.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
On a straight party-line vote Wednesday morning, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ratified the nomination of former New Mexico congressman Stevan Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 4 Mar. 2026
Argentina and Uruguay, two other members of the bloc, have already ratified the deal, which was under negotiation for more than 25 years.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
It has been fully ratified, but not signed into the Constitution.
—Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 3 Mar. 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 6 Mar. 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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