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.
Synonyms
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
But amendments must pass twice in the state to be codified, meaning the same issue will be on the ballot again in 2026.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Nearly 30 years ago, Silicon Valley lobbyists got vast protections for the industry codified into federal law — Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
While Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg as an acerbic genius who has codified his victim complex into every decision, Garfield taps into the incredulity and exasperation of being punished for not validating every whim of Zuckerberg’s entrepreneurism.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Alabama state legislators have pushed to codify a federal ban of the devices under state law, but that effort fell short in the last state legislative session.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024
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.
Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Nearly 30 years ago, Silicon Valley lobbyists got vast protections for the industry codified into federal law — Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024
While Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg as an acerbic genius who has codified his victim complex into every decision, Garfield taps into the incredulity and exasperation of being punished for not validating every whim of Zuckerberg’s entrepreneurism.
—Rory Doherty, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Alabama state legislators have pushed to codify a federal ban of the devices under state law, but that effort fell short in the last state legislative session.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for codify
Dictionary Entries Near codify
Cite this Entry
“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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