codec

noun

co·​dec ˈkō-ˌdek How to pronounce codec (audio)
: a device or software system that can digitize and often compress an audio or video signal for transmission (as over a telephone line) and convert an incoming signal to audio or video for reception
To permit satellite communication through such a compact antenna, an electronic device called a voice coder-decoder—or codec—translates speech into a digital signal.Discover

Examples of codec in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The headphones support the same codecs as the AirPods Pro 3, including AAC, AAC-ELD, and SBC. Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 There are hardly any compromises on audio quality, with the Headphone (a) offering a similar 40-mm dynamic driver, with support for static spatial audio, along with the AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 5 Mar. 2026 Low-power implementation of the Bluetooth subband audio codec. IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026 Each earbud is driven by two balanced armature drivers alongside a 12mm composite dynamic driver and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound with support for LDAC and aptX Lossless audio codecs. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for codec

Word History

Etymology

coder + decoder

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of codec was in 1967

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Codec.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codec. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster