Meaning & use

code

noun·Academic

A system of symbols, letters, or numbers used to represent information for secrecy, brevity, or computing.

See it in a sentence

The programmer spent all night debugging the code for the new mobile app.

Spies used a secret code to send messages that enemies could not read.

A note on using this word

Code can also mean a formal set of rules, as in 'legal code' or 'code of conduct,' distinct from the encryption or programming senses.

Words with a similar meaning

cipher

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A set of established rules or principles governing conduct within a particular profession or community.

Doctors follow a strict ethical code that protects patient confidentiality.

Make it your own

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