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
No telling yet how the WGA’s deal, which leaders arrived to earlier this month quite swiftly and the membership ratified on Friday, will affect the actors’ talks.
—
Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
Sheridan School District educators are expected to return to the classroom next week after union members voted unanimously Friday to ratify a deal to end the longest teachers strike in recent Colorado history.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Unified School District administrators overwhelmingly ratified a new labor contract with the district, their union announced on Friday.
—City News Service, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010 (AALA/Teamsters) both voted to ratify tentative agreements that were reached with the district earlier this month.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Katie Campione, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
Sheridan School District educators are expected to return to the classroom next week after union members voted unanimously Friday to ratify a deal to end the longest teachers strike in recent Colorado history.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Los Angeles Unified School District administrators overwhelmingly ratified a new labor contract with the district, their union announced on Friday.
—City News Service, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles/Teamsters Local 2010 (AALA/Teamsters) both voted to ratify tentative agreements that were reached with the district earlier this month.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 25 Apr. 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 28 Apr. 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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