unratified
|un-rat-i-fied|
/ˌʌnˈrætɪfaɪd/
(unratify)
not formally approved
Etymology
'unratified' originates from English, specifically formed from the prefix 'un-' + the past participle 'ratified', where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'ratified' is from the verb 'ratify'.
'ratify' came into English via Old French 'ratifier' from Latin 'ratificare' (from 'ratus' "calculated, fixed" + '-ficare' from 'facere' "to make"). The modern English adjective 'unratified' is a negative formation on the past participle 'ratified'.
Originally 'ratify' carried the sense 'make firm or confirm' in Latin; over time it came to mean specifically 'to give formal or legal approval (often by vote)', and 'unratified' has come to mean 'not given that formal approval'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past participle (or past tense) form of 'unratify' (to revoke or withhold ratification).
Several amendments were left unratified at the end of the session.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/04 22:31