redacted: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal, Official, Legal, Journalistic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “redacted” mean?
Edited or censored for publication by removing or obscuring sensitive information.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Edited or censored for publication by removing or obscuring sensitive information.
1. Having confidential or classified details removed from a document before release. 2. More broadly, edited selectively to hide specific content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. More frequent in American media and legal discourse due to prominence of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) releases.
Connotations
Connotes officialdom, secrecy, legal compliance, and often a degree of frustration from incomplete disclosure.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “redacted” in a Sentence
[document/email/file] + BE + redacted[agency/officer] + redacted + [document/section]redacted + FROM + [document]redacted + FOR + [reason (e.g., privacy)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redacted” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The MI5 file was thoroughly redacted before being transferred to the National Archives.
- Solicitors must redact client personal data from any public submission.
American English
- The FBI redacted the names of informants in the released memo.
- We will need to redact the social security numbers from these forms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to contracts or memos with commercially sensitive details removed before sharing.
Academic
Used in discussing historical archives or data sets where participant identities are protected.
Everyday
Increasingly used by the public when discussing government transparency or leaked documents.
Technical
Standard term in legal discovery, journalism under source protection, and data privacy (e.g., GDPR).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redacted”
- Using 'redacted' to mean simply 'edited' or 'corrected'.
- Confusing it with 'retracted' (withdrawn).
- Misspelling as 'redacted' or 'redacted'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Censored' is broader, often implying suppression by authority for moral, political, or military reasons. 'Redacted' is more technical and legal, focusing on the selective editing of a specific document to remove particular sensitive details.
Yes, but less commonly. The verb is 'to redact'. Example: 'Please redact the classified paragraphs before distribution.' The past participle 'redacted' is far more frequent.
Not necessarily. Redaction typically creates a public-facing version. The original, unredacted document is usually retained by the originating authority.
Traditionally using black marker or tape. Digitally, using software tools that permanently remove or overlay text/images with solid blocks. Poor redaction (e.g., using transparent text colour) can sometimes be reversed.
Edited or censored for publication by removing or obscuring sensitive information.
Redacted is usually formal, official, legal, journalistic, technical in register.
Redacted: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈdaktɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈdæktɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[leave] more black than text”
- “[a document] full of black bars”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'red actor' (redacted) wearing a black bar over his eyes on stage—he's hiding his identity.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A FLUID (the flow is blocked), TEXT IS A SPACE (parts are blacked out).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of a 'redacted' document?