codify
verb
cod·i·fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī 
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
Ronald Wardhaugh b
: classify
Customer complaints are codified as dissatisfaction feedback.
codifiability
ˌkä-də-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun ˌkō-
codification
ˌkä-də-fə-ˈkā-shən
noun ˌkō-
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
- assort
- break down
- categorize
- class
- classify
- compartment
- compartmentalize
- digest
- distinguish
- distribute
- grade
- group
- peg
- place
- range
- rank
- relegate
- separate
- sort
- type
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The convention codified the rules of war. The author tries to codify important ideas about language.
Recent Examples on the Web The United States has continued to codify surveillance since 2001, particularly with the Obama-era Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program and Trump’s rebranded Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) initiative. Reina Sultan, Essence, 11 Sep. 2022 Rodriguez Sanchez’s legislation would codify the rules permanently. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 The PACT Act will codify 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers as connected to burn pit exposure, and automatically recognize those who served as eligible for the care. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2022 House Democrats have set votes on multiple bills to codify rights that were not spelled out in the Constitution but which were granted -- at least for a period of time, in Roe's case -- by Supreme Court rulings. Mason Leib, ABC News, 19 July 2022 What will this administration do to try to codify Roe, to try to through Congress put into law some of these priorities? CBS News, 10 July 2022 The MTS Public Safety Committee voted unanimously last month to codify the program with a few changes, sending the issue to the full board for final approval. Callum Wilson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2022 An anti-discrimination ordinance would codify our values as a community and enhance our economic vitality. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 July 2022 Democrats are going to fight to codify Roe from Congress, to stake out the most extreme positions in blue states. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 1 July 2022 See More
Reina Sultan, Essence, 11 Sep. 2022 Rodriguez Sanchez’s legislation would codify the rules permanently. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 The PACT Act will codify 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers as connected to burn pit exposure, and automatically recognize those who served as eligible for the care. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2022 House Democrats have set votes on multiple bills to codify rights that were not spelled out in the Constitution but which were granted -- at least for a period of time, in Roe's case -- by Supreme Court rulings. Mason Leib, ABC News, 19 July 2022 What will this administration do to try to codify Roe, to try to through Congress put into law some of these priorities? CBS News, 10 July 2022 The MTS Public Safety Committee voted unanimously last month to codify the program with a few changes, sending the issue to the full board for final approval. Callum Wilson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 July 2022 An anti-discrimination ordinance would codify our values as a community and enhance our economic vitality. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 July 2022 Democrats are going to fight to codify Roe from Congress, to stake out the most extreme positions in blue states. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 1 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
code entry 1 + -ify
First Known Use
1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
codify
transitive verb
cod·i·fy ˈkä-də-ˌfī, ˈkō-
codified; codifying
: to reduce (laws) to a code
codifying
verb
1
as in classifying
to arrange or assign according to type codify these ancient cultures according to their political structures Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- classifying
- distinguishing
- relegating
- ranking
- distributing
- grouping
- categorizing
- separating
- identifying
- recognizing
- grading
- typing
- placing
- organizing
- digesting
- compartmentalizing
- classing
- sorting
- cataloging
- systematizing
- pegging
- assorting
- listing
- ranging
- referring
- filing
- compartmenting
- alphabetizing
- ordering
- disposing
- indexing
- culling
- cataloguing
- pigeonholing
- marshaling
- reclassifying
- breaking down
- arraying
- winnowing
- marshalling
- regrouping
- shelving
- sifting
- drawing up
- recategorizing
- clustering
- screening
- sieving
- setting
- clumping
- colligating
- subcategorizing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lumping
- scrambling
- confusing
- jumbling
- disarranging
- mixing (up)
- misclassifying
- mistyping
- mis-sorting
- missorting
2
as in organizing
to put into a particular arrangement the rules for the game were codified over a hundred years ago Synonyms & Similar Words
- classifying
- organizing
- arranging
- ordering
- systematizing
- disposing
- marshaling
- arraying
- ranging
- placing
- grooming
- aligning
- marshalling
- drawing up
- laying out
- displaying
- prioritizing
- filing
- sequencing
- alphabetizing
- lining
- hierarchizing
- queuing
- cuing
- setting
- emplacing
- making up
- alining
- lining up
- cueing
- queueing
- unscrambling
- setting out
- sprucing (up)
- straightening (up)
- tidying (up)
- mapping (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disordering
- upsetting
- deranging
- disarranging
- rumpling
- disarraying
- messing (up)
- mussing (up)