Ratificare

Ratificare is an Italian verb meaning “to ratify,” “to confirm,” or “to endorse.” In general usage it denotes the act of giving formal approval to a decision, contract, treaty, or other legal act that has already been made or proposed. The verb belongs to the first conjugation and its infinitive form is ratificare; the past participle is ratificato.

In legal contexts, ratificare is commonly employed when a legislative body, executive authority, or international organization formally accepts and validates an agreement or legislative act. For example, a parliament may ratificare a treaty signed by the head of state, thereby making the treaty binding under national law. Similarly, a company’s board may ratificare a prior resolution passed by a committee, confirming its effect.

The term also appears in administrative and procedural language. A contract may be ratificato by both parties after a period of negotiation, indicating that the terms are now final and enforceable. In the judicial sphere, a judge might ratificare a previous ruling if it is upheld on appeal.

Etymologically, ratificare derives from the Latin verb “ratificare,” a compound of “ratus” (the past participle of “raer,” meaning “to think” or “to consider”) and the suffix “-ficare,” related to “facere” (to make). Hence the original sense conveys “to make something considered true or accepted.”

Synonyms in Italian include confermare, approvare, convalidare, and sancire, though each carries slight nuances depending on the specific legal or procedural context. Ratificare remains a staple term in Italian legislative, diplomatic, and contractual language.