ratify

[ rat-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, rat·i·fied, rat·i·fy·ing.

1. to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction:

   to ratify a constitutional amendment.

   Synonyms: approve, corroborate

   Antonyms: disapprove, veto

2. to confirm (something done or arranged by an agent or by representatives) by such action.

   Synonyms: establish, validate

ratify

/ ˈrætɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. tr to give formal approval or consent to

Derived Forms

• ˈratiˌfiable, adjective
• ˌratifiˈcation, noun
• ˈratiˌfier, noun

Other Words From

• rat·i·fi·er noun
• non·rat·i·fy·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratify¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ratifien, from Middle French ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificāre, equivalent to Latin rat(us) “calculated” ( rate ¹ ) + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratify¹

C14: via Old French from Latin ratus fixed (see rate ¹) + facere to make

Example Sentences

Under the scheduling formula ratified unanimously by the owners Wednesday, the 17th game will be an out-of-conference game based on teams’ order of finish within their divisions the previous season.

From Washington Post

Women officially won the right to vote just a few months before the 1920 presidential election, and as soon as the 19th Amendment was ratified, suffragists were predicting a sea change in American politics.

From FiveThirtyEight

Once the 19th Amendment was ratified, the story went, every woman in the United States could vote.

From Washington Blade

One hundred years ago today, the United States ratified the 19th Amendment, granting women—in theory—the right to vote.

From Fortune

There was growing instability around the time it was ratified, after the 1932 election, and that’s some of what it intended to deal with, but it wasn’t really designed with this problem in mind.

From FiveThirtyEight

“It is not dissimilar from Putin using the Duma to ratify his annexation of the Crimea,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

To the Americans, however, the invasion was “not to ratify a victory already won; it was to seize that victory by brute force.”

From The Daily Beast

Too many states would ratify progressive nationalist amendments.

From The Daily Beast

Prof. Takao Tanase also believes that Japan will ratify the convention, but not fully implement it.

From The Daily Beast

By December 11th, they were faced with the option of choosing which side's shenanigans to ratify.

From The Daily Beast

It means properly a small sum of money paid to clench a bargain, or to ratify an engagement.

From Project Gutenberg

There is an objection in a high quarter to bestow honors, which would seem to ratify the downfall of an ancient house.

From Project Gutenberg

This selection the liverymen must ratify by stating that the man named is their free choice.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly; but that war was precisely what was needed to ratify the Union, and lift it out of the experimental stage.

From Project Gutenberg

On his being presented they asked the King, according to their privilege, to confirm and ratify his appointment.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• approve
• confirm
• endorse
• establish
• okay
• sign
• uphold