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
If passed, the bill would essentially codify a decades-old policy called the Hyde Amendment which has banned the use of any federal dollars on abortions since 1977.
—Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
The sanctuary city law, first proposed in 2023, codified preexisting policies to protect immigrants and their families that were established under an order by former Mayor Eric Garcetti.
—Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
And the priorities for land management agencies passed in the EXPLORE Act, which address pressing issues for outdoor recreation, are codified into law and more likely to endure from one administration to the next.
—Miyo McGinn, Outside Online, 22 Jan. 2025
Matt Martin, 47th, for what Martin said was resistance by the Johnson administration to his bid to codify a ban on lobbyist contributions to Chicago mayors.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
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.
Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025
The sanctuary city law, first proposed in 2023, codified preexisting policies to protect immigrants and their families that were established under an order by former Mayor Eric Garcetti.
—Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025
And the priorities for land management agencies passed in the EXPLORE Act, which address pressing issues for outdoor recreation, are codified into law and more likely to endure from one administration to the next.
—Miyo McGinn, Outside Online, 22 Jan. 2025
Matt Martin, 47th, for what Martin said was resistance by the Johnson administration to his bid to codify a ban on lobbyist contributions to Chicago mayors.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
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 10 Feb. 2025.
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