ratification

ratification — noun

1. the formal act, usually by voting, of officially accepting a treaty, law, or con

1.nounB2
Definition

the formal act, usually by voting, of officially accepting a treaty, law, or contract so that it becomes legally valid and binding

Example

Femi voted for the ratification of the new climate treaty in parliament today.

ratification + of + [document] — specifying the approved item

The constitutional amendment needs ratification by at least three-quarters of the states.

ratification + by + [body] — specifying who approves

Common collocations
  • ratification of a treaty
  • formal ratification
  • ratification process
  • ratification vote
  • subject to ratification
  • seek ratification
  • require ratification
Synonyms
  • approval

    more general; ratification is a specific, formal type of approval

  • confirmation

    less formal and often administrative; ratification has legal weight

  • endorsement

    can be public support; ratification is a binding official act

  • validation

    focuses on proving correctness; ratification focuses on official consent

Antonyms
  • rejection

    the opposite outcome when a body votes against ratification

  • veto

    a single-party power to block ratification

Grammar Patterns

ratification of [document/agreement]

ratification by [body/person]

Usage Note

Typically used with of + the item being approved (ratification of a treaty). Common verbs that precede it include seek, require, vote for, push for, achieve, and delay. Almost always appears in formal legal or political contexts.

Common Mistakes

The president gave ratification to the new law.
The president signed the ratification of the new law.
ratification is the act itself, not something you "give" to something else.
I need your ratification to buy a car.
The board's ratification is needed before the merger can go ahead.
ratification is a formal/official act, not personal permission.

Word family

  • ratify
    verbB2
  • ratifier
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Ratification sits at the formal end of the synonym group. Approval is the broadest term, covering everything from a manager's nod to a committee's vote — it lacks the legal finality of ratification. Confirmation suggests verifying or affirming an existing decision rather than creating a new legal obligation, as when a senate confirms a nominee. Endorsement implies public support or recommendation, often before a formal vote, and carries no binding legal force on its own. Validation is about proving something meets a standard or is correct, like validating a test result. Use ratification specifically when a legally authorized body (a parliament, a board, a group of states) votes to make a document or agreement binding. For example: 'The board gave its approval to the plan' could mean informal agreement, but 'The board voted for ratification of the contract' means the contract is now legally enforceable.

approval ↗confirmation ↗endorsement ↗validation

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ratification process
  • ratification vote
  • ratification debate
  • ratification document

Adverbs

Phrases

  • subject to ratification
  • seek ratification of
  • ratification by parliament

Prepositions

  • of (the treaty)
  • by (the senate)
  • before (ratification)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Ratification comes from the Latin verb ratificare, meaning 'to confirm or approve,' which was built from ratus ('fixed, settled, established') and facere ('to make'). Medieval French adopted ratifier, and English borrowed the noun ratification in the 1400s for the formal act of confirming or giving validity to an agreement.