codify

verb

cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī 

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

ˌkä-də-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌkō-

noun

codification

ˌkä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌkō-

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.

Synonyms of codify

• classify
• rank
• distinguish
• relegate

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

This codified a Texas Supreme Court ruling that had already been handed down just months before Walker became pregnant. — Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

The memorable costumes, codified in fashion history halls, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and their influence on modern fashion are the unmistakable legacy of Mackie, who died at age 87. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year, lawmakers in the Michigan Senate introduced bills to codify those rules into state law. — Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Those are some of the main items pertaining to working conditions that were codified in a memorandum of understanding between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association in June 2025. — Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

code entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for codify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

codify

verb

cod·​i·​fy ˈkäd-ə-ˌfī 

ˈkōd-

codified; codifying

: to arrange (as a collection of laws) in an orderly form

codification

ˌkäd-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌkōd-

noun

Legal Definition

codify

transitive verb

cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī, ˈkō- 

codified; codifying

: to reduce (laws) to a code

codification

ˌkä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən, ˌkō- 

noun