ratify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction.
to ratify a constitutional amendment.
- Synonyms:
- approve, corroborate
- Antonyms:
- disapprove, veto
-
to confirm (something done or arranged by an agent or by representatives) by such action.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ratify
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ratifien, from Middle French ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificāre, equivalent to Latin rat(us) “calculated” ( see rate 1) + -ificāre -ify
Explanation
To ratify a treaty or contract is to officially approve it by signing or voting for it. You and your brothers and sisters might devise a plan for a family vacation to Disney World, but it would need to be ratified by your parents. You are most likely to hear the word ratify when talking about laws. In the U.S., Congress writes bills, but they need to be ratified before they become law. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either passed by the state legislatures or by state conventions.
Vocabulary lists containing ratify
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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American History I
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"So I think we are coming to good solutions that we are going to ratify hopefully today, in order to evolve, because it's only three races in."
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
Sir Keir said this year's summit "will not just ratify existing commitments made at last year's summit" but would be "more ambitious".
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
The European Union will provisionally apply its trade agreement with South American countries as lawmakers in the bloc are still waiting to ratify the accord.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Vietnam goes to the polls on Sunday to elect members of the National Assembly, the country's top legislative body that serves mainly to ratify decisions by the ruling Communist Party.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
His attack was on those who wrote history to ratify and glorify the present, particularly present political arrangements.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
