codify
verb
cod·i·fy
ˈkä-də-ˌfī 
ˈkō-
codified; codifying
1
: to reduce to a code
The convention codified the rules of war.
2
a
: systematize
Standardization refers to the process by which a language has been codified in some way.—
Ronald Wardhaugh
Ronald Wardhaugh
b
: classify
Customer complaints are codified as dissatisfaction feedback.
Did you know?
A code is a collection of laws arranged in an orderly way; famous examples include the Code of Hammurabi, from about 1760 B.C. in ancient Babylon, and the Napoleonic Code, produced at Napoleon's orders in 1804. Laws that have been included in a code have been codified. The rules of baseball differed greatly from one place to another until they were codified by Alexander Cartwright in 1845; they haven't changed much since, though we don't know what Cartwright would say about the designated hitter.
Synonyms
Examples of codify in a Sentence
The convention codified the rules of war.
The author tries to codify important ideas about language.
Recent Examples on the Web
The rationale was codified in Sharia: Virgins must not be killed, so the regime decreed they must be raped first before being hung.
—Mariam Memarsadeghi, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
The last year following a presidential year, 2021, was historically packed, as states rushed to either codify or roll back COVID-era voting changes.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
These rules were first codified in 2015 and broadly aimed to regulate internet providers like utilities to create a more open, accessible internet.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
Skinny Singles rules have officially been codified in the rule book.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
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Mariam Memarsadeghi, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
The last year following a presidential year, 2021, was historically packed, as states rushed to either codify or roll back COVID-era voting changes.
—Miles Parks, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
These rules were first codified in 2015 and broadly aimed to regulate internet providers like utilities to create a more open, accessible internet.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Jan. 2025
Skinny Singles rules have officially been codified in the rule book.
—Todd Boss, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for codify
Dictionary Entries Near codify
Cite this Entry
“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
codify
verb
cod·i·fy
ˈkäd-ə-ˌfī
ˈkōd-
codified; codifying
: to arrange (as a collection of laws) in an orderly form
Legal Definition
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