codify

verb

cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī How to pronounce codify (audio)
ˈkō-
codified; codifying

transitive verb

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
b
: classify
Customer complaints are codified as dissatisfaction feedback.
codifiability noun
codification noun

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 Thus, while codifying body autonomy for women may be necessary, the ERA would strengthen any legislation from the inevitable court battles that would ensue. Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024 Section 230 codifies this basic principle: When harmful speech occurs online, the speaker should be held responsible — not the service that hosts the speech. Aaron MacKey, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 The company's efforts have drawn ridicule from some researchers, who note that as early as the 1970s, psychedelic therapists had codified the settings and techniques described in Compass patents. Matthew Perrone, Quartz, 5 Feb. 2024 Officially removing an ingredient from flu vaccines will codify that sentiment, effectively publishing Yamagata’s obituary. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2024 But the high court updated its rules in 2013 to codify the practice that only lawyers can present arguments. Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024 The administration also enacted new regulatory changes last summer designed to codify some of these improvements so that future borrowers will have an easier time getting relief. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Fat Joe has previously visited Capitol Hill to sit with members of Congress in an effort to urge them to pass legislation codifying and expanding healthcare price transparency. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2024 Back in 1922, officials from the seven states the river runs through met to decide how to divide up and use its water, and codified the resulting agreement in the Colorado River Compact. Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'codify.' 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

code entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of codify was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near codify

Cite this Entry

“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

codify

verb
cod·​i·​fy ˈkäd-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce codify (audio)
ˈkōd-
codified; codifying
: to arrange (as a collection of laws) in an orderly form
codification noun

Legal Definition

codify

transitive verb
cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī, ˈkō- How to pronounce codify (audio)
codified; codifying
: to reduce (laws) to a code

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