codify

/ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ/

//ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"codify" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“codify” is uncommon English (frequency #59,967 among 5,599 “C” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#59,967
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To reduce to a code, to arrange into a code.

Corpus desk

Index EN-codify · codify · English

codify · rank #59,967 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #59,967
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH Colburn

Nearest frequency peer: Colburn (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Frequency neighbourhood for “codify”

Lower corpus rank = more everyday usage (inverted bar length for readability)

corpus weight

What this shows Bars show where “codify” sits against the nearest ranked English headwords in the FrequencyWords band, not a reprint of letter-browse containment.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for codify
PropertyValue
Headwordcodify
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ/
Letters6
Frequency rank#59,967
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “codify” sits in English frequency

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).codifylands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

The axis is logarithmic, with each marked tick roughly ten times rarer than the last. Same rarity band neighbours include “Colburn” (#59,968), “clonal” (#59,965), “Collison” (#59,969). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

codify is uncommon English at frequency #59,967 among 5,599 “C” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for codify in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From code + -ify. The correct English form is codify, spelled C-O-D-I-F-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To reduce to a code, to arrange into a code.
  2. 2
    To collect and arrange in a systematic form.
  3. 3
    To enact as an official rule or law.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how codify appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The company president codified the goal as a one-line mission statement.
  2. The house of Ruthven was a small but ultra-modern limestone affair, between Madison and Fifth ;[…]. As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space that the eyes might rest on after a tiring attempt to follow and codify the arabesques, foliations, and intricate vermiculations of what some disrespectfully dubbed as “ near-ai…

Etymology

From code + -ify.

Synonyms

inscripturatesystematizesystematise

This word in other languages

codificar(Español)codifier(Français)kodifizieren(Deutsch)codificar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "codify"?
"codify" is spelled C-O-D-I-F-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ/.
What does "codify" mean?
As a verb, "codify" means: To reduce to a code, to arrange into a code.
How do you pronounce "codify"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "codify" is /ˈkɑd.ɪˌfaɪ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "codify"?
From code + -ify. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "codify", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 6 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

clonal#59,965Darian#60,001Brolin#59,930deuces#60,013

What to do next

You've looked up "codify". Here's where to go from here.

  • Usage frequency rank #59,967 among English headwords in this corpus. Corpus statistics
  • Browse more English words in the "C" letter cohort. C–Z browse
  • PlainSpell rotates a curated Word of the Day from the English corpus, a passive way to discover vocabulary. Word of the Day

PlainSpell is a reference corpus, not spelling advice. Verify unusual forms in context.

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list