ratify

This term carries a heavy weight of formality and legal authority, typically appearing in diplomatic, governmental, or corporate contexts. It describes the final step in a process where a preliminary agreement is transformed into a binding legal obligation through an official act of consent. While similar to approve or endorse, this word specifically implies a formal procedure—such as a vote or a signature—that validates a document or action after it has already been drafted or executed. It is rarely used in casual conversation and is almost exclusively reserved for official protocols.