code

play

noun \ ˈkōd \

Definition of code

1 :a systematic statement of a body of law; especially :one given statutory force

2 :a system of principles or rules

moral code

3 a :a system of signals or symbols for communication

b :a system of symbols (such as letters or numbers) used to represent assigned and often secret meanings

4 :genetic code

5 :instructions for a computer (as within a piece of software)

writing code for a new app

—

codeless

play \ˈkōd-ləs\ adjective

See code defined for English-language learners

See code defined for kids

Examples of code in a Sentence

Everyone in the organization has to follow its code of ethics.
The army has a strict code of conduct.
The enemy was unable to break the army's secret code.
The message was sent in code.
Every item in the store has a product code.
Enter your security code to access the computer.
Each employee is given a code number.
He was hired to write programming code.

Recent Examples of code from the Web

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have pledged to overhaul the nation’s complex tax code.

— Washington Post, "Push to simplify taxes is on but don’t touch some deductions," 31 Aug. 2017
Cutting rates and overhauling the tax code was a major campaign promise for Trump and congressional Republicans, and their aim is to accomplish that by the end of 2017.

— jim puzzanghera, chicagotribune.com, "Trump to kick off tax-cut push with speech devoid of details, White House says," 30 Aug. 2017
Building codes and construction practices were examined and later changed as a result.

— AL.com, "The 7 most devastating US hurricanes since 1980 (photos)," 30 Aug. 2017
Whatever your feelings about fall, here’s another good beauty sale to cushion the blow: Dermstore is taking 20 percent off for Labor Day (code LONGWKND).

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "Buy These 9 Beauty Products on Sale Now, and Make Summer Last a Little Longer," 30 Aug. 2017
That visit may have been a bit strained; according to David Cox at The Guardian, Turing was officially supposed to share British breakthroughs in breaking the Enigma code with the Americans.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "New Letters Show Alan Turing Wasn’t a Fan of the U.S.A.," 30 Aug. 2017
Think pink was the dress code for the 16th annual Summer Chefs Wine Dinner, Aug. 11 at the Windsor Court Hotel.

— sue strachan, NOLA.com, "Summer Cure Chefs Wine Dinner honors Pat Denechaud," 28 Aug. 2017
Also introduced Monday was an accompanying resolution, 1097-17, that amends the list of fines and penalties for parking and other town code violations to add a $100 vehicle immobilization installation and removal fee.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "New Bel Air parking laws fine extra for 'the boot'," 25 Aug. 2017
Apa and Cerrudo found that the Alpha2, sold by the Chinese company UBTech, ran a version of Android that forgoes code-signing, a security measure that prevents the installation of rogue software.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Household Robots Are the Next Thing to Get Hacked," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'code.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of code

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin caudex, codex trunk of a tree, document formed originally from wooden tablets

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

code Synonyms

Synonyms

canon, constitution, decalogue, law

Related Words

discipline, establishment; common law, legislation

code

verb

Definition of code

coded; coding

transitive verb

:to put in or into the form or symbols of a code

intransitive verb

:to specify the genetic code

a gene that codes for a protein

—

codable

play \ˈkō-də-bəl\ adjective

—

coder

noun

See code defined for English-language learners

Examples of code in a Sentence

The general sent a coded message.
Each product has been coded.

Recent Examples of code from the Web

In the past five years, dozens of schools have popped up offering an unusual promise: Even humanities graduates can learn how to code in a few months and join the high-paying digital economy.

— steve lohr, The Seattle Times, "As coding boot camps close, the field faces a reality check," 27 Aug. 2017
EM: Myself, MIMS and Blackout, none of us know how to code.

— nerisha penrose, Billboard, "MIMS and Music Industry Veteran Erik Mendelson Discuss the Success Behind Their New App RecordGram," 9 Aug. 2017
Developing for PlayStation VR has been educational for Pettit, who teaches others how to code at the online Treehouse platform.

— marco santana, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando indie game maker to debut on PlayStation VR," 31 July 2017
The two airlines already code-share on some routes.

— susan carey, WSJ, "Delta Plans to Expand Reach in Asia with Korean Air Partnership," 23 June 2017
Kids at a STEM-focused elementary school learn how to code on iPads.

— danielle paquette, chicagotribune.com, "In slice of Midwest, labor shortage weighs on economy," 21 June 2017
At last count 90 genes are known to code for these enzymes.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Scripps, Salk scientists independently make key biological advance," 12 June 2017
State workers then send a record of this assessment to Anderson’s team at the NCHS who code it with one of those 8,000 or so potential causes in the ICD—which over a century of use and revision has become the globe’s single compendium to mortality.

— clifton leaf, Fortune, "A Few Words on The Departed," 5 June 2017
But LVREIS let the property deteriorate, ignored an order to bring the property to code and skipped a hearing before Sycamore Township Board of Trustees in December, Weidman said.

— jeanne houck, Cincinnati.com, "Drake Motel could house vets readying for jobs," 25 May 2017

First Known Use of code

1815

CODE Defined for English Language Learners

code

play

noun

Definition of code for English Language Learners

: a set of laws or regulations
: a set of ideas or rules about how to behave
: a set of letters, numbers, symbols, etc., that is used to secretly send messages to someone

code

verb

Definition of code for English Language Learners

: to put (a message) into the form of a code so that it can be kept secret
: to mark (something) with a code so that it can be identified
: to change (information) into a set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be read by a computer

CODE Defined for Kids

code

play

noun \ ˈkōd \

Definition of code for Students

1 :a system of rules or principles

a code of conduct

2 :a system of signals or letters and symbols with special meanings used for sending messages

3 :a collection of laws

criminal code

4 :genetic code

5 :a set of instructions for a computer

code

verb

Definition of code for Students

coded; coding

:to put in the form of a code

Medical Dictionary

code

play

noun \ ˈkōd \

medical Definition of code

1 :genetic code

2 :code blue

code

verb

medical Definition of code

coded; coding

transitive verb

:to specify the genetic code for

an amino acid coded by a nucleotide sequence

intransitive verb

1 :to specify the genetic code

the DNA sequence of the gene that codes for that protein
—Gina B. Kolata

2 :to experience cardiac arrest or respiratory failure

They were taking her up to the operating room and she coded in the hallway. The resuscitation effort was heroic.
—Perri Klass, Discover, November 1986

Law Dictionary

code

noun

legal Definition of code

1 :a systematic compilation or revision of law or legal principles that is arranged especially by subject: as

a :one that contains the law of a specific jurisdiction or topic promulgated by legislative authority

U.S. Code

Code of Massachusetts Regulations

building code

— compare case law, digest, statute

b :one that serves as a model for legislation but is not itself a law

Model Penal Code

2 :a set of rules or regulations that is promulgated by a body (as a professional organization) and that regulates its industrial or professional practices