ratify

UK: /ˈrætɪfaɪ/ US: /ˈrætəˌfaɪ/ ,(rat′ə fī′)

Inflections of 'ratify' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

ratifies

v 3rd person singular

ratifying

v pres p

ratified

v past

ratified

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rat•i•fy /ˈrætəˌfaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to formally approve an agreement, treaty, law, etc., by expressing agreement, consent, or approval:
   to ratify an amendment.

rat•i•fi•er, n. [countable] See -ratio-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rat•i•fy  (rat′ə fī′), v.t., -fied, -fy•ing. 

1. to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction:
   to ratify a constitutional amendment.
2. to confirm (something done or arranged by an agent or by representatives) by such action.

• Medieval Latin ratificāre, equivalent. to Latin rat(us) calculated (see rate¹) + -ificāre -ify
• Middle French ratifier
• Middle English ratifien 1325–75

rat′i•fi′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. corroborate, approve.
• 2. validate, establish.

Antonyms

• 1. veto, disapprove.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ratify / ˈrætɪˌfaɪ/ verb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)

1. (transitive) to give formal approval or consent to

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin ratus fixed (see rate¹) + facere to make

ˈratiˌfiable adjective

ˌratifiˈcation noun

ˈratiˌfier noun