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 governor also suggested that the state could go even further and codify the order into state statute in the upcoming legislative session.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The National Defense Authorization Act, currently under consideration by Congress, includes a provision that would codify the loophole that allows military aircraft to fly without broadcasting their location.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Still, Republicans do not want to waste the opportunity to usher through party-line legislation — either as a way to help boost their midterm argument, or to codify GOP policies before a difficult midterm election year.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 14 Dec. 2025
But McCune urged Congress to codify a national AI framework.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for codify
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Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The National Defense Authorization Act, currently under consideration by Congress, includes a provision that would codify the loophole that allows military aircraft to fly without broadcasting their location.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
Still, Republicans do not want to waste the opportunity to usher through party-line legislation — either as a way to help boost their midterm argument, or to codify GOP policies before a difficult midterm election year.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 14 Dec. 2025
But McCune urged Congress to codify a national AI framework.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 12 Dec. 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 20 Dec. 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
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