redaction
Americannoun
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the editing of text so as to hide or remove confidential or sensitive information.
Transcripts of the hearing will be available online once the redaction is completed.
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the text or information that has been removed or hidden.
Most of the redactions pertain to the privacy interests of the parties, including Social Security numbers, telephone numbers, and home addresses.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of redaction
First recorded in 1610–20; from French rédaction, equivalent to Latin redāct(us) + -iō -ion ( def. ); redact ( def. )
Explanation
Redaction is a fancy way to describe the process of organizing and editing something before publishing it. Your fifty-page story will need some redaction before the school literary magazine will accept it! You can use the noun redaction for the finished version of a text as well as the process of getting it into this form: "You can throw that copy away, because I've got the redaction ready for you to look at." It's also common to see redaction defined as a censored version of a document, like the redaction journalists receive from the CIA, with classified sections blacked out.
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.
Bondi told the House Oversight Committee in May that Blanche had overseen the process, which included delays in the release of files and major redaction issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
“There were redaction errors,” Bondi’s opening statement said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
The Justice Department has said only a fraction of the released files had redaction errors and it is fixing any mistakes when notified by victims or their attorneys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 15, 2026
While the sender of the email is redacted in the published file, the black redaction box does not completely cover his email address in one reference on the chain.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
In the Avestas, the sacred books of the religion of Iran, which, however late their redaction, still enshrine a very ancient creed, Mithra has the same well-defined personality.
From Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill
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