ratify
[verb]
Synonyms: approve, affirm, authorize, confirm, endorse, establish, sanction, uphold

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Contrasted words: disown, reject, repudiate
Related Words: accredit, authorize, commission, license, approve, endorse, sanction, authenticate, validate

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English Thesaurus: approve, pass, ratify, rubber-stam

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

rat‧i‧fy /ˈrætəfaɪ, ˈrætɪfaɪ/ verb (past tense and past participle ratified, present participle ratifying, third person singular ratifies) [transitive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificare, from Latin ratus; ⇒ rate¹]
to make a written agreement official by signing it
ratify a treaty/an agreement/a decision etc
We hope that the republics will be willing to ratify the treaty.
—ratification /ˌrætəfəˈkeɪʃən, ˌrætɪfəˈkeɪʃən/ noun [uncountable]:
an attempt to delay ratification of the treaty

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

approve to officially accept a plan, proposal etc:
The Medical Research Council has approved the use of a new drug for breast cancer.
pass to approve a law or proposal, especially by voting:
Many anti-smoking laws have been passed.
ratify to make a written agreement official by signing it:
The treaty was ratified by the Senate in 1988.
rubber-stamp to approve something without really thinking about it – used to show disapproval:
Parliament merely rubber-stamped the president’s decisions.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲