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
Yet, Merz still struggled to ratify his chancellorship.
—
Mark I. Vail, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
The right to automatic U.S. citizenship at birth was enshrined by the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 in the wake of the Civil War.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Historical Context and Legal Precedent The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, was explicitly intended to protect all persons born in the United States, regardless of ancestry.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Trump has argued that the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868, was meant to grant citizenship to the babies of enslaved people.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Mark I. Vail, The Conversation, 16 May 2025
The right to automatic U.S. citizenship at birth was enshrined by the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868 in the wake of the Civil War.
—Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Historical Context and Legal Precedent The Fourteenth Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, was explicitly intended to protect all persons born in the United States, regardless of ancestry.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Trump has argued that the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which was ratified in 1868, was meant to grant citizenship to the babies of enslaved people.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 15 May 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 22 May. 2025.
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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