redact
Americanverb (used with object)
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redacts,
present (3rd person singular)
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redacted,
past participle, past
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redacting
present participle
verb
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to compose or draft (an edict, proclamation, etc)
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to put (a literary work, etc) into appropriate form for publication; edit
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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redactsimple
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redactssimple
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have redactedperfect
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has redactedperfect
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am redactingprogressive
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are redactingprogressive
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is redactingprogressive
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have been redactingperfect progressive
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has been redactingperfect progressive
Past
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redactedsimple
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had redactedperfect
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was redactingprogressive
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were redactingprogressive
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had been redactingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of redact
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin redāctus (past participle of redigere “to lead back”), equivalent to red- red- + āctus, past participle of agere “to drive, move, lead”; see act
Explanation
To redact is to arrange or edit text in a written document. Don't get too attached to every word in your rough draft; your teacher will expect you to redact it before handing in your final paper. Redact refers to any kind revising or editing that makes a document better, usually for publication. When you see the prefix re-, you know the word is going to refer to something either being done again or retracted. You can think of redact as redoing writing or taking back some of what was originally said. You'll often see the word redact being used with the prepositions in or into. You might take several documents and redact them into a single one.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Her low profile has been maintained, in part, with the help of her lawyer who requested that the Justice Department redact her name in its files.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
While your mother’s bank may decide to redact certain sensitive transaction details, it cannot refuse to disclose all accounting.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
According to a report by the Washington Post, Patel has directed agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office to redact the case files for public release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2026
Several criticised what they said was a failure to redact the names of victims as was required by law.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
"Abridge, redact," he exclaims towards the end, but there was no abridgment and no redaction.
From The Life of Froude by Herbert W. (Herbert Woodfield) Paul
Officials have said they would release materials as the department reviews and redacts them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
The report redacts details of the now-deleted post, from 16 November 2023, which the BBC has seen.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025
The indictment, which refers to crimes between March 2021 and July 2022, lists five defendants, but redacts the names of four.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 31, 2023
In Freedom of Information Act requests, the Department of Agriculture redacts anything that could reveal the location of an agricultural operation.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 13, 2023
If he is applauded, he prospers and redacts; if he is hissed, he goes his ways.'
From The French Revolution by Thomas Carlyle
Gates said he resigned, alleged the Register had relied on fake records, and shared a partially redacted Justice Department letter with The Times purporting to show he had voluntarily left.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
The Premier League published a redacted version of the commission's report, which said the charges "concerned well over 100 alleged individual breaches of Premier League Rules across four broad charge categories".
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
The document, partially redacted, suggests that the woman suffered from mental health problems.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
A second draft of the letter, dated March 4, contained altered language providing that the voter information would be “transferred” to HSI, with one exception: Voters’ party affiliation would be redacted, if possible, it said.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
She'd seen it in the library book before it was redacted.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
On 11 March, the government said it was redacting documents to conceal details including people's phone numbers, the identity of junior civil servants, personal data of third parties and legal professional privilege.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
In a statement, Inspector General William M. Blier said his “preliminary objective is to evaluate the DOJ’s processes for identifying, redacting, and releasing records in its possession as required by the Act.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
Of those who remain, roughly 1,000 special agents and others are said to be focused on redacting materials related to the Epstein files.
From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026
What they’ve done is all these haphazard redactions, redacting a bunch of things they’re not supposed to redact.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2026
For there is much consulting about it, and redacting of it; Polish Majesty himself very busy.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 15 by Thomas Carlyle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
