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 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
The 185 state parties that have ratified the convention can nominate elements for inscription on the list.
—Kristin Houser, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The opposition People Power Party, however, argues that the National Assembly must ratify the trade deal due to the exorbitant costs involved.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Deal to cut tariffs and ease regulatory barriers A formal signing of the deal could come later this year after officials go through the legal details of the text and the EU Parliament ratifies it.
—Rajesh Roy, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
The 185 state parties that have ratified the convention can nominate elements for inscription on the list.
—Kristin Houser, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The opposition People Power Party, however, argues that the National Assembly must ratify the trade deal due to the exorbitant costs involved.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026
Deal to cut tariffs and ease regulatory barriers A formal signing of the deal could come later this year after officials go through the legal details of the text and the EU Parliament ratifies it.
—Rajesh Roy, Fortune, 27 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 5 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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