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 addition, the bill would raise limits on the number of public housing units that can receive financing for renovations and codify a recovery program to help expedite funds to communities rebuilding after disaster.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
The concept was codified by the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.
—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
With at least $100 million, the group hopes to codify violence intervention into city law.
—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
An ordinance to codify both tax policies, introduced by Legislative Vice-Chair Sean Smith, is currently before the Jackson County legislature.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for codify
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ABC News,
24 June 2026
The concept was codified by the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.
—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
With at least $100 million, the group hopes to codify violence intervention into city law.
—
Sabrina Franza,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
An ordinance to codify both tax policies, introduced by Legislative Vice-Chair Sean Smith, is currently before the Jackson County legislature.
—
Ilana Arougheti
june 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for codify
Cite this Entry
“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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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