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
America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document.
—
Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026
If ratified, the declaration will remain in place until the council’s next meeting when the council can choose to extend or remove it.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Miami-Dade County Commission ratified the project in July 2025.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The United States has not ratified the convention but generally treats its provisions as customary law.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ratify
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Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026
If ratified, the declaration will remain in place until the council’s next meeting when the council can choose to extend or remove it.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Miami-Dade County Commission ratified the project in July 2025.
—Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The United States has not ratified the convention but generally treats its provisions as customary law.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 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 12 Jan. 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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