redaction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical
Quick answer
What does “redaction” mean?
The act or process of editing text to remove or obscure sensitive or confidential information.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of editing text to remove or obscure sensitive or confidential information.
Can refer to the edited version of a document, or the practice of censoring information for privacy, security, or legal reasons.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely similar, but 'redaction' is more frequently encountered in American English due to its common use in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and legal proceedings.
Connotations
Generally neutral, though it can be perceived negatively if associated with excessive secrecy or censorship.
Frequency
More common in written language and specific domains like law, academia, and journalism; less frequent in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “redaction” in a Sentence
redaction of [noun]under redactionsubject to redactionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “redaction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The authorities must redact personal details from the public records.
American English
- They will redact the sensitive sections before releasing the document.
adverb
British English
- The information was handled redactively to comply with privacy laws.
American English
- Documents are often processed redactively to prevent leaks.
adjective
British English
- The redacted version of the report omitted key financial data.
American English
- She accessed only the redacted files for her review.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in handling confidential reports, contracts, or communications where sensitive data must be obscured before sharing.
Academic
Common in research ethics, citation of sensitive sources, or discussions on information transparency.
Everyday
Rarely used; typically encountered in news about government documents, legal cases, or data privacy issues.
Technical
Frequent in legal, journalistic, and information technology fields for data protection and compliance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “redaction”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “redaction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “redaction”
- Using 'redaction' to mean 'edition' or 'version', or misspelling it as 'redation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While similar, 'redaction' typically refers to the legal or ethical removal of specific information, often for privacy, whereas 'censorship' can imply broader suppression of content for political or moral reasons.
Yes, the verb form is 'redact', meaning to edit or obscure text by removing sensitive parts.
It is pronounced as /rɪˈdækʃən/ in both British and American English, with the stress on the second syllable.
It is most common in legal, governmental, journalistic, and academic contexts where sensitive information needs to be protected before disclosure or publication.
The act or process of editing text to remove or obscure sensitive or confidential information.
Redaction is usually formal, technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'redaction' as 're-dact-ion' – taking action again to edit or remove parts of a document.
Conceptual Metaphor
Text as a surface that can be cleaned or obscured to hide unwanted elements.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'redaction'?