redact
Americanverb
-
to compose or draft (an edict, proclamation, etc)
-
to put (a literary work, etc) into appropriate form for publication; edit
Other Word Forms
- redaction noun
- redactional adjective
- redactor noun
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.
Several criticised what they said was a failure to redact the names of victims as was required by law.
From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026
Massie has also criticized the DOJ, which he says “has failed to properly redact victims’ information while simultaneously succeeding in avoiding the disclosure of incriminated individuals,” in a statement to Salon.
From Salon • Feb. 10, 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
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference that the latest round of releases, which will begin Friday, follow an extensive review by Justice Department employees to redact sensitive information about Epstein’s victims.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026
"The Rédacteur vill not redact long, hein?" he said presently.
From Children of the Ghetto A Study of a Peculiar People by Zangwill, Israel
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.
