code

1 of 2

noun

ˈkōd 

plural codes

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

c

: coded language : a word or phrase chosen in place of another word or phrase in order to communicate an attitude or meaning without stating it explicitly

The strategy also appealed to blue-collar workers in the Northeast and Northwest who were opposed to "forced bussing." This was expressed in code as favoring "law and order" and opposing "crime in the streets."

—Elizabeth Drew

—usually used with for

I hear the word "development" a lot in public speech; politicians and activists use it as code for a lot of things—jobs, health care, a change in leadership.

—Sallie Tisdale

This quarter-century of Republican momentum was reversed finally by Bill Clinton, who called himself a "New Democrat," code for "not a liberal."

—Joshua Muravchik

4

: genetic code

5

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

writing code for a new app

codeless

ˈkōd-ləs 

adjective

code

2 of 2

verb

coded; coding

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1

: to specify the genetic code

a gene that codes for a protein

2

: to create or edit computer code

She got a job coding for Google.

codable

ˈkō-də-bəl 

adjective

coder noun

Synonyms

Noun

• canon
• constitution
• decalogue
• law

Examples of code in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

The general sent a coded message.

Each product has been coded.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Simply enter the code JOY to reveal your new, nicer-to-your-wallet price. —Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 16 Nov. 2023

Any physician could use the code, but it is expected that primary care physicians would use it more frequently than specialists. —Michelle Andrews, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023

That begins with stronger building codes and performance standards that would not only help the US meet its emissions targets but also protect families from lung irritants like nitrogen dioxide that gas stoves release, said Lewis of Rewiring America. —Yessenia Funes, The Verge, 14 Nov. 2023

Dalton would scan for new species of exploitable devices and write code to infect them. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023

For San Francisco’s part, the city has swept homeless encampments, confiscated carts from street food vendors lacking proper permits, and temporarily shuttered select restaurants in Chinatown due to health code infractions, according to SFGate. —Kylie Robison, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2023

That by itself is worthy of recognition, experts say, but the code’s deficiencies are as well. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Nov. 2023

Again, a code will be sent to you for verification. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Since launching, Ellen DaSilva, Summer Health’s CEO and founder, noticed that caregivers want more streamlined communication with experts around nutrition, sleep, and mental health—topics where a 15-minute text exchange with an expert can help crack the code. —Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 13 Nov. 2023

Verb

Cate, Kentaro and May (Kiersey Clemons), Kentaro’s reluctant former lover, an American ex-pat with a knack for hacking and coding, find themselves on an odyssey to uncover the origins of Monarch. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

Price at time of publication: $70 JavaScript Coding for Teens: A Beginner's Guide to Developing Websites and Games View On Amazon Gamers who want to make their dream video game a reality will benefit from a beginner’s guide to coding. —Casey Clark, Parents, 17 Nov. 2023

Because women are coded private, and men are coded public, and that’s obviously wrong and boring and stupid and dangerous. —Grace Edquist, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2023

As generative AI continues to be adopted for everything from content creation to coding, current and incoming college students would be wise to think now about navigating an evolving workplace. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

For example, developers are happy to code two versions of their apps: for iOS and for Android. —Isabelle Bousquette, WSJ, 26 Oct. 2023

Microsoft offers a plug-in for its coding program, Visual Studio Code, that is powered by a coding-specific language model developed by OpenAI. —WIRED, 6 Nov. 2023

Denmark Lego is selling bricks with Braille coding for blind and partially sighted children and their families. —Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Oct. 2023

Other variants are even more coded: shortly after the Hamas invasion, 4chan anons were turning comic book character Pepe the Frog into a paraglider. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing code

• area code
• dialling code
• dress code
• code word
• black code
• cheat code
• zip code
• pre-code
• QR code
• source code
• object code
• Morse code
• genetic code
• penal code
• code of ethics
• sub-code
• code name
• bar code

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• area code
• dialling code
• dress code
• code word
• black code
• cheat code
• zip code
• pre-code
• QR code
• source code
• object code
• Morse code
• genetic code
• penal code
• code of ethics
• sub-code
• code name
• bar code

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Kids Definition

code

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōd 

1

: a collection of laws arranged in some orderly way

criminal code

2

: a system of principles or rules

moral code

3

a

: a system of signals for communicating

b

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

4

: genetic code

5

: a set of instructions for a computer

code

2 of 2 verb

coded; coding

: to put into the form or symbols of a code

coder noun

Medical Definition

code

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōd 

1

: genetic code

2

: code blue

code

2 of 2 verb

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

Legal Definition

code

noun

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

ABA Code of Professional Responsibility

Etymology

Noun

Old French, from Medieval Latin codex, from Latin caudex codex tree trunk, set of wood writing tablets, book