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.
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
In the last six years, 20 states have passed bills or resolutions to codify year-round daylight saving time, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Tuberville's bill would have helped set a stricter precedent and codify Trump's order with more permanence.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Similar policies are codified in state and county laws.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Upping the pressure, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) suggested that not codifying the DOGE cuts would amount to a break from the administration’s efforts.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
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Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Tuberville's bill would have helped set a stricter precedent and codify Trump's order with more permanence.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2025
Similar policies are codified in state and county laws.
—Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Upping the pressure, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) suggested that not codifying the DOGE cuts would amount to a break from the administration’s efforts.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
Cite this Entry
“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 20 Mar. 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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