redaction

noun

re·dac·tion ri-ˈdak-shən

: an act or instance of redacting something

: a work that has been redacted : edition, version

redactional

ri-ˈdak-shnəl

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Did you know?

Here's a quiz for all you etymology buffs. Can you pick the words from the following list that come from the same Latin root?

A. redaction B. prodigal C. agent D. essay
E. navigate F. ambiguous

If you guessed all of them, you are right. Now, for bonus points, name the Latin root that they all have in common. If you knew that it is the verb agere, meaning to "to drive, lead, act, or do," you get an A+. Redaction is from the Latin verb redigere ("to bring back" or "to reduce"), which was formed by adding the prefix red- (meaning "back") to agere. Some other agere offspring include act, agenda, cogent, litigate, chasten, agile, and transact.

Examples of redaction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In its petition to the high court, the news outlets argued that selective redactions can be made to protect truly private information. —

Hadas Gold, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024 Both parties must show cause for not granting permanent redactions to the case’s various exhibits by September 25. —

News Desk, Artforum, 13 Sep. 2024 For now, that means no more pre-trial hearings, no more fights over redactions and no more waiting for a trial date in the Florida case — at least while special counsel Jack Smith appeals the decision to a higher court, and perhaps the Supreme Court. —

Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 21 July 2024 The rules will need to include redaction policies, responsibility for redactions and how to handle confidential information, Tarwater said. —

Jon Styf | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for redaction

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'redaction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French rédaction, from Late Latin redaction-, redactio act of reducing, compressing, from Latin redigere to bring back, reduce, from re-, red- re- + agere to lead — more at agent

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of redaction was in 1785

See more words from the same year