[rat-uh-fi-key-shuh
n] 
| 1. | the act of ratifying; confirmation; sanction. |
| 2. | the state of being ratified. |
| rat·i·fy (rāt'ə-fī') tr.v. rat·i·fied, rat·i·fy·ing, rat·i·fies To approve and give formal sanction to; confirm. See Synonyms at approve. [Middle English ratifien, from Old French ratifier, from Medieval Latin ratificāre : Latin ratus, fixed, past participle of rērī, to reckon, consider; see rate1 + Latin -ficāre, -fy.] rat'i·fi·ca'tion (-fĭ-kā'shən) n., rat'i·fi'er n. |
The approval from the legislative branch required to validate government agreements. In the United States, amendments to the Constitution require the ratification of state legislatures, and international treaties require the ratification of the Senate.