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Glite Dictionary
ratified

ratified

2 5.5
Officially approved so it has legal force
  • adjective
  • /ˈrætɪfaɪd/
  • Formal
: ratificado
  • The constitution was ratified in 1788, establishing the framework for the new government.

Examples

  • The treaty was finally ratified by the government, giving it legal authority.

  • They're not assuming sort of a second Kyoto Protocol ratified by the whole world.

  • After years of negotiation, the agreement was ratified and became law.

Synonyms

approved
vsratified
  • Formal
136 1.5

Officially accepted by a person or group in charge

is formal approval that adds legal force beyond simple authorization
sanctioned
vsratified
  • Formal
44 4.1

Officially allowed by people in charge

is formal approval that focuses on granting legal force rather than rule conformity
validated
vsratified
  • Formal
5 4.2

Officially checked and accepted as correct or legal

is formal approval that gives legal force and authority

Antonyms

unratified
  • Formal
1 7.6

Not officially approved, so a treaty or agreement has no legal effect

How Official

ratified
  • Formal
2 5.5
approved
  • Formal
136 1.5
unofficial
72 3.8

Surface Forms

ratified positive

Morphology

ratified = ratify (transparent) = ratify + ed

The adjective is the past-participle form of the verb 'ratify' formed by '-ed', so learners knowing 'ratify' can readily infer 'ratified' as formally approved.

Etymology

The word ratified comes from the Latin root ratus meaning 'confirmed' and the ending -fy meaning 'to make', as in simplify. So to ratify something is to 'make it confirmed' or officially approve it, which is why a ratified treaty has legal force.