Codicil
noun /ˈkɒd.ɪ.sɪl/ — An addition or amendment to a will
Definition
A supplement or addition to a previously made will — modifying, explaining, or revoking specific provisions without replacing the whole document. The codicil is the will's afterthought — the thing that changed.
Beyond the definition
Codicil is the word for reconsidering — the legal mechanism for changing your mind about what you leave behind. Every codicil contains a story: someone who fell out of favour, someone who was remembered at the last moment.
Origin & history
Latin: codicillus (a small writing, a little book). The diminutive of codex. A codicil is a small supplement to a larger document — the annotation that changes the text.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She added a codicil removing him from the will six weeks before her death.
The estate lawyer recommended a codicil rather than rewriting the entire will.
A codicil is how the dead change their minds.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Codicil” when the meaning fits your context: A supplement or addition to a previously made will — modifying, explaining, or revoking specific provisions without replacing the whole document. The codicil is the will's afterthought — the thing that changed.
Synonyms
amendment, addendum, supplement
Antonyms
main will, original document
Related words
Codicil vs amendment
A codicil is an official legal addendum specifically used for a will. Amendment is a general term for any change to a legal document or law.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Restorer Working on Mosaic
An adult restorer sits at a desk with a magnifying glass, working on a tiny part of an ancient mosaic.
The restorer works on a single, specific detail of the larger whole. A codicil functions similarly, acting as an afterthought or addition that modifies a will, changing specific provisions without needing to replace the entire document.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Codicil" mean?
Codicil is noun meaning: An addition or amendment to a will. A supplement or addition to a previously made will — modifying, explaining, or revoking specific provisions without replacing the whole document. The codicil is the will's afterthought — the thing that changed.
Where does the word "Codicil" come from?
Latin: codicillus (a small writing, a little book). The diminutive of codex. A codicil is a small supplement to a larger document — the annotation that changes the text.