: a device or software system that can digitize and often compress an audio or video signal for transmission (as over a telephone line) and convert an incoming signal to audio or video for reception
To permit satellite communication through such a compact antenna, an electronic device called a voice coder-decoder—or codec—translates speech into a digital signal.—
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Examples of codec in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the heart of the Air 2 is support for Sony’s Hi-Res LDAC audio codec supported by many Android phones.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Sound quality is better, too, thanks to Bose’s support for higher-quality Bluetooth codecs and a new spatial audio mode called Immersive Audio, which allows for more depth when listening to select content.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 26 Feb. 2024
As for connectivity, the speaker supports Bluetooth 5.3 but works only with the SBC codec.
—PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024
The earbuds are compatible with the older Bluetooth 5.0 standard and work with the AAC and SBC codecs.
—PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024
This includes hardware acceleration for the AV1 video codec, which promises better video quality for game streaming without increasing file sizes.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2023
The AirPods have long been the champion of voice calls, and with the third-gen set, Apple is trying to improve the fidelity of FaceTime calls by using a new AAC-ELD codec for clearer voice reproduction.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 14 Dec. 2023
Apple hasn't yet indicated support for Bluetooth LE or the LC3 codec.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023
There’s support for the hi-res lossless aptX Adaptive audio codec with a transfer rate of up to 24-bit/96kHz.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Sound quality is better, too, thanks to Bose’s support for higher-quality Bluetooth codecs and a new spatial audio mode called Immersive Audio, which allows for more depth when listening to select content.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 26 Feb. 2024
As for connectivity, the speaker supports Bluetooth 5.3 but works only with the SBC codec.
—PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024
The earbuds are compatible with the older Bluetooth 5.0 standard and work with the AAC and SBC codecs.
—PCMAG, 26 Jan. 2024
This includes hardware acceleration for the AV1 video codec, which promises better video quality for game streaming without increasing file sizes.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 6 Sep. 2023
The AirPods have long been the champion of voice calls, and with the third-gen set, Apple is trying to improve the fidelity of FaceTime calls by using a new AAC-ELD codec for clearer voice reproduction.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 14 Dec. 2023
Apple hasn't yet indicated support for Bluetooth LE or the LC3 codec.
—Joe Hindy, PCMAG, 18 Sep. 2023
There’s support for the hi-res lossless aptX Adaptive audio codec with a transfer rate of up to 24-bit/96kHz.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'codec.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
coder + decoder
First Known Use
1967, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near codec
Cite this Entry
“Codec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codec. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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