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
Union members will vote on whether to ratify the contract Monday.
—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The Directors Guild of America has voted to ratify a four-year contract intended to preserve members’ jobs amid a historic downturn in film and TV production.
—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
26 June 2026
The amendment was not ratified during the Civil War, but the efforts in both the North and South revealed how an existential political crisis pushed language of God into government.
—
David Mislin,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
The Equal Protection Clause, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, was intended to stop states from discriminating against Black people, many constitutional scholars agree.
—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Laura Fay,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The Directors Guild of America has voted to ratify a four-year contract intended to preserve members’ jobs amid a historic downturn in film and TV production.
—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
26 June 2026
The amendment was not ratified during the Civil War, but the efforts in both the North and South revealed how an existential political crisis pushed language of God into government.
—
David Mislin,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
The Equal Protection Clause, ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, was intended to stop states from discriminating against Black people, many constitutional scholars agree.
—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 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 1 Jul. 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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