# codex

/kˈəʊdɛks/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/codex
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. ancient manuscript book

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

an ancient book written by hand, especially one of the first books to use pages instead of a long roll of paper.

For teachers: a manuscript volume of ancient biblical or classical texts. The term distinguishes the bound leaf format from the earlier rotulus or scroll.

- The museum displayed an ancient codex that was over a thousand years old.
- Scholars spent decades studying the Mayan codex to decipher the complex astronomical calculations recorded on its bark-paper pages.

### 2. official list of medicines

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

an official book that lists medicines and how to prepare them.

For teachers: a formal or official pharmacopoeia; a collection of descriptions of drugs and medicinal preparations.

- The pharmacist checked the national codex to confirm the correct ingredients for the cream.
- The updated medical codex provides standardised guidelines for the preparation and storage of synthetic hormones in clinical settings.

## Examples

- The museum displays a famous codex from the fourth century.
- Scholars traveled across the continent to examine the original codex for clues about early medieval law.
- The transition from the scroll to the codex represented a significant technological shift, allowing readers to navigate long texts more efficiently by simply turning pages rather than unrolling long sheets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.