codify

verb

cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī How to pronounce codify (audio)
ˈkō-
codified; codifying

transitive verb

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
b
: classify
Customer complaints are codified as dissatisfaction feedback.
codifiability noun
codification noun

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 If passed, the ordinance would make Phoenix the first city in the state to codify heat safety rules for outdoor workers — at a time when other hot cities are struggling to pass similar regulations. The Arizona Republic, 26 Mar. 2024 Passed by the Texas Legislature during a special session in November, SB 4 codifies a series of penalties for anyone suspected of crossing into the U.S. in Texas other than through an international port of entry. USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 The bill also codifies qualifications for case managers and others who work in residential facilities. Tony Cook, ProPublica, 15 Mar. 2024 There has been no sweeping police and criminal justice reform, and efforts to codify voting protections into federal law died in Congress. Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 The abuse was systematic, and even codified in writing. Ali Winston, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 Thus, while codifying body autonomy for women may be necessary, the ERA would strengthen any legislation from the inevitable court battles that would ensue. Charlotte Observer, 29 Feb. 2024 Section 230 codifies this basic principle: When harmful speech occurs online, the speaker should be held responsible — not the service that hosts the speech. Aaron MacKey, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 The company's efforts have drawn ridicule from some researchers, who note that as early as the 1970s, psychedelic therapists had codified the settings and techniques described in Compass patents. Matthew Perrone, Quartz, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'codify.' 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

code entry 1 + -ify

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of codify was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near codify

Cite this Entry

“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codify. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

codify

verb
cod·​i·​fy ˈkäd-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce codify (audio)
ˈkōd-
codified; codifying
: to arrange (as a collection of laws) in an orderly form
codification noun

Legal Definition

codify

transitive verb
cod·​i·​fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī, ˈkō- How to pronounce codify (audio)
codified; codifying
: to reduce (laws) to a code

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