anonymize

American  

[uh-non-uh-mahyz] / əˈnɒn əˌmaɪz /

especially British, anonymise

verb (used with object)

anonymized, anonymizing

1. to block or eliminate identifying information from (test results, data, authorship, etc.), especially for purposes of statistical analysis, product appraisal, or personal privacy; to make anonymous.

   anonymizing cancer patients’ medical histories for our research files; software that helps you anonymize your online activity.

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anonymize British  

/ əˈnɒnɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to carry out or organize in such a way as to preserve anonymity

   anonymized AIDS screening

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anonymization
  noun
• anonymizer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of anonymize

First recorded in 1855–60 for an earlier sense; the current sense was first recorded in 1970–75; anonym(ous) ( def. ) + -ize ( def. )

Example Sentences

Buyers wanting privacy commonly ask their registrar to conceal their information, including, in Epik’s case, through an add-on service called Anonymize.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2021

The hack also exposed personal data from Anonymize, a privacy service the company offered to users that wanted to hide their identity.

From Salon • Sep. 22, 2021

The hack even exposed the personal records from Anonymize, a privacy service Epik offered to customers wanting to conceal their identity.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2021