codify

1 of 2

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

codification

2 of 2

noun

cod·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌkä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌkō-

plural -s

: the act of codifying or being codified

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

Verb

• classify
• rank
• distinguish
• relegate

Examples of codify in a Sentence

Verb

The convention codified the rules of war.

The author tries to codify important ideas about language.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

By codifying culture, HR leaders create a depth of connection and mission alignment that allows the organization to win. — Julie Hoagland, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

This is not dissimilar from policies used by other law enforcement agencies, which also typically stop short of codifying disciplinary steps, Schneider says. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

The center was codified and signed into law by Congress in the 2023 annual defense policy bill, which also required the Pentagon to publicly release an annual report about the center's work, like the one published last month. — James Laporta, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

If Sifnos is famous for codifying Cycladic cuisine, with iconic dishes like revithada and mastelo, Tinos is often celebrated for the sheer quality and diversity of its ingredients. — Monica Mendal, Vogue, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

code entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

Verb

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