What is the Latin word for code?

The usual Latin words for “code” are lēx, caudex. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“code” in Latin

lēxthe legal machinery of a state, the law; a law, statute, bill; the laws regarded as a body, the constitution caudextree trunk, stump; bollard; post; book, writing; notebook, account book

The English word code itself goes back to Latin caudex, through cōdex.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

code

leges (scriptae): also, perhaps, codex, corpus juris (e.g., the Roman, juris Romani).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for code?: The usual Latin words for “code” are lēx, caudex. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.