verb · formal
ratify
/ˈrætɪfaɪ/RAT·i·fy
to formally approve or confirm a treaty, agreement, or law, often by a legislative body
Examples
“Several countries have yet to ratify the climate accord.”
“The parliament ratified the convention after months of debate.”
“A government may sign a treaty but needs its legislature to ratify it.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although the government signed the pact in Geneva, it could not implement the measures until parliament ratified them.”
Collocations
- ratify a treaty / ratify an agreement
- ratification of
Word family
Common mistakes
approve the treaty→ratify the treaty (in legal/official context)
sign the treaty = ratify the treaty→sign a treaty (by government) vs ratify (by legislature)
Say it for a higher band
5approve→6confirm→7+ratify
Synonyms
approve
confirm
Easily confused
approve
“The council approved the budget last week.”
confirm
“The committee confirmed the candidate's appointment.”
Related words
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In -ify
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