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
The result is a growing rift: European regulators are codifying consent and auditability, while U.S. policy is shifting toward looser oversight and broader carve-outs, leaving creators with even less leverage.
—Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The rescission package codifies the cuts to foreign aid that the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency made earlier this year during its dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 31 July 2025
First codified in international law in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, the principle has been gaining popularity in recent decades.
—Dana Zartner, The Conversation, 23 July 2025
Ultimately, the Senate axed that provision from the final version of the Big, Beautiful Bill, which meant states continued to carry the authority to propose and codify AI laws that serve their immediate needs.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
The rescission package codifies the cuts to foreign aid that the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency made earlier this year during its dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development.
—Fatma Tanis, NPR, 31 July 2025
First codified in international law in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, the principle has been gaining popularity in recent decades.
—Dana Zartner, The Conversation, 23 July 2025
Ultimately, the Senate axed that provision from the final version of the Big, Beautiful Bill, which meant states continued to carry the authority to propose and codify AI laws that serve their immediate needs.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
Cite this Entry
“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share