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 year, Johnson unsuccessfully resisted Martin’s effort to codify old rules banning lobbyists from donating to mayoral candidates.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Organizations and their leaders must also codify and embed cultural behaviors with charity.
—Edward Doherty, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Wisconsin also overwhelmingly approved of codifying voter ID requirements, which suggests that may not be the wedge issue Dems hope.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The Public Health Committee also passed a Senate omnibus bill that, among other measures, seeks to safeguard against potential changes by the Trump administration by codifying certain current federal laws into state law.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
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Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Organizations and their leaders must also codify and embed cultural behaviors with charity.
—Edward Doherty, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
At the same time, Wisconsin also overwhelmingly approved of codifying voter ID requirements, which suggests that may not be the wedge issue Dems hope.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The Public Health Committee also passed a Senate omnibus bill that, among other measures, seeks to safeguard against potential changes by the Trump administration by codifying certain current federal laws into state law.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 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 22 Apr. 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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