ratify

verb

rat·​i·​fy ˈra-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce ratify (audio)
ratified; ratifying

transitive verb

: to approve and sanction formally : confirm
ratify a treaty
ratifier noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by the unit with 96% voter participation and ratified with 93% support. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025 Birthright citizenship was ratified as the 14th Amendment to the Constitution in 1868. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2025 However, once the claims commissioner files the report with the state’s judiciary committee, it is ratified after 45 days, whether or not the legislature chooses to act on the settlement, Winfield told CNN. Yash Roy, CNN, 23 Feb. 2025 But the order sought to exert authority over how the Fed oversees Wall Street, decisions that are ratified with majority support by the board. Colby Smith, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ratify

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ratifien, from Anglo-French ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificare, from Latin ratus determined, from past participle of reri to calculate — more at reason entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ratify was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Ratify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ratify. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

ratify

verb
rat·​i·​fy ˈrat-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce ratify (audio)
ratified; ratifying
: to give legal or official approval to
ratify a treaty

Legal Definition

ratify

transitive verb
rat·​i·​fy ˈra-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce ratify (audio)
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
ratification noun
ratifier noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ratify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!