# ratify

/ˈɹætəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /ɹˈætɪfˌaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ratify
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to officially agree to a decision or a document so that it becomes legal. You use this when a group or a country signs a deal to make it official.

For teachers: to formally approve or confirm a decision, treaty, or agreement. Often used in legal or political contexts to describe the process of making a document official.

## Examples

- The committee must ratify the new rules before they start.
- The treaty will not be legally binding until the president ratifies it with the national parliament.
- After months of intense negotiation, the final agreement was ratified by both nations, marking a significant milestone in their long-standing diplomatic efforts to resolve the border dispute.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.