was not ratified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not ratified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing agreements, treaties, or legal documents that have not received formal approval or confirmation. Example: "The proposed amendment to the constitution was not ratified by the required majority of states."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

ARMS CONFERENCE ACTION.; Delegates Signed Poison Gas Convention but It Was Not Ratified.

The New York Times

The Statute of Westminster was not ratified in Australia until 1942.

The Guardian - Opinion

Archives|ARMS CONFERENCE ACTION.; Delegates Signed Poison Gas Convention but It Was Not Ratified.

The New York Times

That treaty, which was not ratified by the United States, sets emission limits for developed nations.

The New York Times

In 1874 a conference at Brussels prepared a declaration relative to prisoners of war, but it was not ratified.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A Franco-Lebanese treaty of independence and friendship was signed in 1936 but was not ratified by the French government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Our cast-iron guarantee was that if Lisbon wasn't ratified and if we won the election we'd hold a referendum.

Independent

The first women's-rights convention was held in 1848, at Seneca Falls, New York, but the Nineteenth Amendment wasn't ratified for another seventy years.

The New Yorker

But it never met its objectives, because it wasn't ratified by the US, and not by Russia until it was too late.

The Guardian

The U.S.-South Korea trade pact signed first in 2007 went back for renegotiations in 2010 and wasn't ratified by both sides until 2012.

Forbes

He warned of more bloodshed if the agreement is not ratified.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or political topics, use "was not ratified" to precisely convey that an agreement or treaty didn't receive the necessary formal approval to become legally binding.

Common error

Don't assume that because a document was signed, it automatically becomes effective. "Signing" is just one step; ratification is the formal approval that makes it legally binding. Be clear which stage you're referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not ratified" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a particular agreement, treaty, or proposal did not receive the necessary formal approval or confirmation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

30%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was not ratified" serves as a crucial indicator that a particular agreement or legal document failed to gain the necessary formal approval. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness. Common contexts include News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Academia, highlighting its role in conveying objective information. Related phrases, such as "did not pass" or "was rejected", offer alternative ways to express the same idea. When using the phrase, be sure to clarify whether the document was signed but ultimately didn't reach ratification. Overall, "was not ratified" is a grammatically sound and contextually valuable phrase with clear implications for legal and political discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not pass

Focuses on the action of passing a law or resolution, rather than the formal approval process.

was rejected

Emphasizes a denial or refusal of acceptance.

failed to be approved

Highlights the failure to achieve approval.

was not endorsed

Indicates a lack of support or backing.

was turned down

Suggests a more direct and possibly informal rejection.

did not go through

Implies a process was incomplete and unsuccessful.

was not sanctioned

Focuses on the lack of official permission or authorization.

was not validated

Suggests a lack of confirmation or verification of correctness or authenticity.

was voted down

Emphasizes a formal voting process that resulted in rejection.

was nullified

Indicates that something was made void or ineffective.

FAQs

What does "was not ratified" mean in legal terms?

In legal contexts, "was not ratified" means that an agreement, treaty, or proposed law did not receive the necessary formal approval to become legally binding or effective. It implies a failure to complete the process required for validation.

What are some alternatives to saying "was not ratified"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "did not pass", "was rejected", or "failed to be approved" to convey a similar meaning.

What's the difference between signing and ratifying a treaty?

Signing a treaty indicates agreement in principle, while ratification is the formal process by which a country approves and becomes legally bound by the treaty. A treaty can be signed but still "was not ratified".

Why might a signed agreement "was not ratified"?

An agreement might "was not ratified" for various reasons, including political opposition, changes in government, concerns about the agreement's terms, or failure to meet constitutional requirements for approval.