encode

verb

en·​code in-ˈkōd How to pronounce encode (audio)
en-
encoded; encoding; encodes
Synonyms of encode

transitive verb

1
a
: to convert (something, such as a body of information) from one system of communication into another
especially : to convert (a message) into code
b
: to convey symbolically
… the capacity of poetry to encode ideology …—J. D. Niles
2
: to specify the genetic code for
encoder noun

Examples of encode in a Sentence

Credit cards are encoded with cardholder information. a technology that encodes images
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Over time, chronic stress reshapes the hippocampus, a part of the brain where memories get encoded, making learning itself harder. — Erin Clabough, The Conversation, 31 July 2026 Now a study in PLOS Biology suggests these vivid memories of early childhood smells are encoded in very specific parts of the brain. — Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 29 July 2026 Senior engineering judgment—the ability to spot a bad architecture, understand why a system will fail under load, know when a business rule has been encoded incorrectly—has always been built through years of junior-level struggle. — Vaibhav Gujral, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Languages also encode values—gender hierarchies baked into pronouns, honorifics that perpetuate caste distinctions—that liberal-minded activists may not be eager to preserve as valuable pieces of linguistic heritage. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for encode

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of encode was circa 1919

Rhymes for encode

See All Rhymes for encode

Browse Nearby Words

enclothe
encode
encodement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Encode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encode. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

encode

verb
en·​code in-ˈkōd How to pronounce encode (audio)
en-
: to change (as a body of information) from one system of communication into another
especially : to change (a message) into code
encoder noun

Medical Definition

encode

transitive verb
en·​code in-ˈkōd, en- How to pronounce encode (audio)
encoded; encoding
: to specify the genetic code for
each nucleotide triplet or codon on the mRNA chain encodes a specific amino acid—J. E. Darnell, Jr.

More from Merriam-Webster on encode

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for encode

Nglish: Translation of encode for Spanish Speakers

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