code

1 of 2

noun

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
5
: instructions for a computer (as within a piece of software)
writing code for a new app
codeless 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 adjective
coder noun

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. See More
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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'code.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of code was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near code

Cite this Entry

“Code.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/code. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

code

1 of 2 noun
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
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

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 proteinGina 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

More from Merriam-Webster on code

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