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Ratify

RAT-ih-fy /ˈrætɪfaɪ/

verbC1GRETOEFLIELTS

FormalLegalPolitical

To sign or give formal consent to (a treaty, contract, or agreement), making it officially valid.

Implies a formal, often governmental or organizational, act of approval that gives legal force to an agreement that was previously negotiated or signed by representatives.

The story behind the word. The word 'ratify' is a blend of two Latin components: ratus, meaning 'fixed' or 'established' (which comes from the verb reri, 'to think, confirm'), and facere, meaning 'to make.' So, to 'ratify' is literally 'to make fixed' or 'to make established.' It's the formal act of confirming and giving legal force to something that was previously agreed upon, transforming a provisional agreement into an officially valid and unshakeable commitment.

Word relationships

Approve: To officially agree to or accept as satisfactory.
Confirm: To establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or rumored to be the case).
Sanction: To give official permission or approval for (an action).

Reject: To dismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or unsuitable.
Veto: To exercise a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Commonly confused with

Sign: To 'sign' is to physically affix a signature; to 'ratify' is to formally approve, often by a legislative body, making an already signed document officially valid.

Word family

ratification (noun): the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid

Collocations

ratify a treaty
ratify an amendment
ratify an agreement
ratify a decision

Example sentences

"The Senate voted to ratify the international climate agreement, committing the nation to its environmental goals." Referring to the approval of a treaty.
"For a constitutional amendment to take effect, it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states." Describing the formal approval of a constitutional amendment.
"The board of directors will meet next week to ratify the CEO's strategic plan." In a business context, approving a decision.

Memory hook

To RATIFY is to make it RAT-ional and legally FIRM, so it can FLY (take effect). RAT-ify: Make it official.

When not to use

Do not use 'ratify' for simple signing or agreeing to a personal contract. It's reserved for formal, often multi-party or governmental, approval processes.

Fun facts

The word 'rate' (as in a fixed charge or payment) also comes from the Latin ratus, meaning 'fixed' or 'calculated.'