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
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) codified this system, requiring broad consumer participation.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
To restore constitutional government, Congress must either codify Trump’s executive orders in legislation or repeal them outright, on a case-by-case basis.
—Ryan Young, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2025
Successfully using the reconciliation process to codify much of Trump’s agenda will be a key factor in whether Republicans maintain and expand their majority in the House, with early tests coming this fall in a handful of state legislature and gubernatorial contests.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Feb. 2025
Outlines His Health Secretary Priorities in Post-Confirmation Interview With Fox News
In 1958 the Bureau of the Budget codified a set of principles universities should use to calculate IDC.
—Trysh Travis / Made By History, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
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Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
To restore constitutional government, Congress must either codify Trump’s executive orders in legislation or repeal them outright, on a case-by-case basis.
—Ryan Young, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2025
Successfully using the reconciliation process to codify much of Trump’s agenda will be a key factor in whether Republicans maintain and expand their majority in the House, with early tests coming this fall in a handful of state legislature and gubernatorial contests.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Feb. 2025
Outlines His Health Secretary Priorities in Post-Confirmation Interview With Fox News
In 1958 the Bureau of the Budget codified a set of principles universities should use to calculate IDC.
—Trysh Travis / Made By History, TIME, 25 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 14 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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