codify

verb

ˈkä-də-ˌfī How to pronounce codify (audio)
Definition of codifynext
1
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type codify these ancient cultures according to their political structures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to organize
to put into a particular arrangement the rules for the game were codified over a hundred years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of codify The new governance model was codified in state law in 2021, after years of advocacy, including efforts by the Chicago Teachers Union. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 That’s the practice the trend is codifying — and the shoppers who adopt it early will spend less fixing mismatches later. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026 LeVota said the settlement follows his executive order, which the Jackson County Legislature later codified. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026 The legislation would also codify the regulation of name, image and likeness deals that have transformed college athletics in recent years by allowing athletes to be paid — some of them as much as millions of dollars per season. — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for codify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for codify
  1. classify
  2. organize
  3. rank
  4. arrange
  5. distinguish
  6. order
  7. relegate
Verb
  • In an April 2026 live-fire exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, the Army demonstrated an autonomous sensor on one platform that detected and classified a hostile drone, then passed data and an engagement command to a weapon system on another platform.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Trump also classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after receiving Bolsonaro at the White House — a move Lula’s administration opposed as a pretext for intervention.
    — Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of classify
Verb
  • Ebola is changing how African governments organize their response, Kaseya said, with Nigeria’s case prompting stronger solidarity across the continent.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The concierge can also organize hydroplane trips across Lake Como, a private dinner behind closed doors beneath Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, and a day of personal shopping in Italy’s fashion capital.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of organize
Verb
  • About 3 in 5 Idaho adults live in households with guns, which ranks among the highest rates nationally, according to an estimate from the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Here’s a closer look at where those marks rank in UM history.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rank
Verb
  • The hotel can also arrange more typical Lanai tourist activities—scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, or a day at the beach at the sister Four Seasons resort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Lawyers in Russia eventually located him and arranged for legal visits, money for food and basic necessities, and the brief phone call with his son.
    — Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • The interplay of precious metals with rubber and leather reinforces the brand’s more casual sensibility, distinguishing it from more formal men’s jewelry offerings.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Some of these cocktail bars in Milan are part of larger operations with restaurants; others distinguish themselves independently.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinguish
Verb
  • In August 2022, Garza was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be jailed until a bed in a state mental health treatment facility was available.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • An Eagle man charged with animal cruelty in the shooting deaths of two caged cats was ordered to serve a total of 14 days in jail after accepting a plea deal in August, according to court records.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of order
Verb
  • Garver struggled offensively in Seattle compared with his time in Texas and was relegated to a backup role behind catcher Cal Raleigh.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, he’s often relegated to the role of good-faith interlocutor, trying his best to get to the truth of who Holmes and Evans are, the nature of their relationship, and their motivations for participating in this project.
    — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of relegate

Browse Nearby Words

codifies
codify
codifying
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Codify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/codify. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All