codec

noun

co·​dec ˈkō-ˌdek 

: 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.

—Discover

Examples of codec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These Samsung Galaxy 4 Pro earbuds are designed with high-res audio and 24-bit hi-fi codec, making music sound pristine. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

The original Fairbuds only supported the SBC and AAC codecs, similar to Apple’s AirPods. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026

High-resolution codecs like aptX Adaptive and Lossless are supported natively, providing CD-quality sound without wires. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

coder + decoder

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for codec

• aztec
• breakneck
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck
• recheck
• redneck
• toltec
• beck
• breck
• check