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ratify

RAT-ih-fy /ˈrætɪfaɪ/

verbC1GRESATUPSC

formallegal

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

Ratification is the secondary internal step where a government legislature approves what diplomats signed.

The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'ratus' (calculated, fixed) and 'facere' (to make). Literally, to 'ratify' means to make a tentative arrangement fixed and settled in law.

Word relationships

confirm: Confirm means to verify, whereas ratify gives legal legislative sanction.
endorse: Endorse means public support, which does not always carry legal enactment power.

reject: Refusing to grant approval or legislative sanction.
nullify: Canceling or voiding an existing approval.

Commonly confused with

sanction: Sanction means to authorize or penalize, whereas ratify specifically means enacting an agreement.

Word family

ratification (noun): The official act of ratifying an agreement.
ratified (adjective): Formally approved and valid.

Collocations

ratify an amendment
ratify a treaty
refuse to ratify
vote to ratify

Example sentences

"Nine states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect in the United States." Constitutional history
"The parliament voted overwhelmingly to ratify the international climate accord." International law

Memory hook

To RATIFY is to make a treaty VALID by giving it a stamp of approval. RATI-fy makes it RATIO-nal and binding.

When not to use

Do not use for casual verbal agreements or everyday decisions.

Fun facts

Some treaties signed by world leaders sit unratified for decades because national senates refuse to vote on them.