Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense ratifies, present participle ratifying, past tense, past participle ratified
verb
When national leaders or organizations ratify a treaty or written agreement, they make it official by giving their formal approval to it, usually by signing it or voting for it.
The parliaments of Australia and Indonesia have yet to ratify the treaty. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: approve, sign, establish, confirm More Synonyms of ratify
ratify in British English
(ˈrætɪˌfaɪ)
verbWord forms: -fies, -fying or -fied
(transitive)
to give formal approval or consent to
Derived forms
ratifiable (ˈratiˌfiable)
adjective
ratification (ˌratifiˈcation)
noun
ratifier (ˈratiˌfier)
noun
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin ratus fixed (see rate1) + facere to make
ratify in American English
(ˈrætəˌfaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈratiˌfied or ˈratiˌfying
to approve or confirm; esp., to give official sanction to
SIMILAR WORDS: apˈprove
Derived forms
ratification (ˌratifiˈcation) (ˌrætəfɪˈkeɪʃən)
noun
ratifier (ˈratiˌfier)
noun
Word origin
ME ratifien < MFr ratifier < ML ratificare < L ratus (see rate1) + facere, to make, do1
Examples of 'ratify' in a sentence
ratify
Any sensible pro-European would ratify the deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rather than risk a second referendum, the government and rebels decided to ratify the new deal in Congress.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Russia has yet to ratify the treaty.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Ministers sought the compulsory deal after years of waiting for the voluntary agreement to be ratified.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And who will ratify any coalition agreement?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has declined to say what he would do if the treaty were ratified before the general election.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
None of these agreements has yet been ratified, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Another 34 countries have signed the convention but not yet ratified it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He will ask the British government to ratify an international convention guaranteeing tribal ownership.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The deal will be ratified in May.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The deal must be ratified by Greece before the money can be released.
The Sun (2011)
But when the smoke cleared, the government got enough votes to ratify the deal.
The Sun (2010)
None has yet ratified it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Housing associations are to do a U-turn and ratify a new deal that allows tenants to buy their homes at a discount.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Interestingly, Spain has already ratified the convention.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The term was invented in the 1980s and has not yet been formally ratified, but it really should be.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As a result, the government ratified an international convention, prohibiting the dumping of rubbish from ships at sea.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It noted that more than ten years after the UK ratified the convention there had been no convictions of companies for foreign bribery.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A federal oil law was first tabled in 2007, but it has yet to be ratified.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The US will not ratify the 2003 treaty.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Those who stay on will get a $3,000 bonus once the deal is ratified and an annual bonus of at least 3 per cent of salary.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He would have struggled to ratify a treaty without a referendum, but he would have struggled to keep his Government together if he had held one.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His actual promise was of a vote if the treaty were not ratified, and when it was passed he dropped his pledge, earning himself much flak.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
ratify
British English: ratify VERB
When national leaders or organizations ratify a treaty or written agreement, they give their formal approval to it.
The parliaments of both countries have yet to ratify the treaty.
American English: ratify
Brazilian Portuguese: ratificar
Chinese: 批准 >条约或书面协议
European Spanish: ratificar
French: ratifier
German: ratifizieren
Italian: ratificare
Japanese: >批准する条約・協定を
Korean: 비준하다
European Portuguese: ratificar
Latin American Spanish: ratificar
(verb)
Definition
to give formal approval to
They have yet to ratify the treaty.
Synonyms
approve
MPs approved the bill by a majority of 97.
sign
establish
An autopsy was being done to establish the cause of death.
confirm
Mrs Suarez is due to be confirmed as President on Friday.
bind
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
endorse
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
uphold
The crown court upheld the magistrate's decision.
authorize
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
affirm
Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion.
certify
They have certified the document as genuine.
consent to
validate
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.
bear out
corroborate
I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story.
authenticate
All the antiques have been authenticated.
Opposites
reject,
cancel
,
repeal
,
revoke
,
repudiate
,
annul
,
abrogate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affirm
Definition
to state clearly one's support for (an idea or belief)
Everything I had accomplished seemed to affirm that opinion.
Synonyms
confirm,
prove,
sanction,
endorse,
ratify,
verify,
validate,
bear out,
substantiate,
corroborate,
authenticate
in the sense of authenticate
Definition
to establish as genuine
All the antiques have been authenticated.
Synonyms
verify,
guarantee,
warrant,
authorize,
certify,
avouch
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give official permission for
We are willing to authorize a police raid.
Synonyms
permit,
allow,
suffer,
grant,
confirm,
agree to,
approve,
sanction,
endure,
license,
endorse,
warrant,
tolerate,
ratify,
consent to,
countenance,
accredit,
vouch for,
give leave,
give the green light for,
give a blank cheque to,
give authority for
Synonyms of 'ratify'
ratify
Explore 'ratify' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of certify
Definition
to guarantee (that certain required standards have been met)
They have certified the document as genuine.
Synonyms
confirm,
show,
declare,
guarantee,
witness,
assure,
endorse,
testify,
notify,
verify,
ascertain,
validate,
attest,
corroborate,
avow,
authenticate,
vouch for,
aver
in the sense of confirm
Definition
to formally make valid
Mrs Suarez is due to be confirmed as President on Friday.
Synonyms
ratify,
establish,
approve,
sanction,
endorse,
authorize,
certify,
validate,
authenticate
in the sense of corroborate
Definition
to support (a fact or opinion) by giving proof
I had access to a wide range of documents which corroborated the story.
Synonyms
support,
establish,
confirm,
document,
sustain,
back up,
endorse,
ratify,
validate,
bear out,
substantiate,
authenticate
in the sense of endorse
Definition
to give approval or support to
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
Synonyms
approve,
back,
support,
champion,
favour,
promote,
recommend,
sanction,
sustain,
advocate,
warrant,
prescribe,
uphold,
authorize,
ratify,
affirm,
approve of,
subscribe to,
espouse,
vouch for,
throw your weight behind
in the sense of establish
Definition
to prove
An autopsy was being done to establish the cause of death.
Synonyms
prove,
show,
confirm,
demonstrate,
ratify,
certify,
verify,
validate,
substantiate,
corroborate,
authenticate
in the sense of sanction
Definition
to officially approve of or allow
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
Synonyms
permit,
back,
support,
allow,
approve,
entitle,
endorse,
authorize,
countenance,
vouch for,
lend your name to
in the sense of uphold
Definition
to maintain or defend against opposition
The crown court upheld the magistrate's decision.
Synonyms
confirm,
support,
sustain,
endorse,
approve,
justify,
hold to,
ratify,
vindicate,
validate
in the sense of validate
Definition
to give legal force or official confirmation to
Give the retailer your winning ticket to validate.