anonymize

verb

anon·​y·​mize ə-ˈnä-nə-ˌmīz 

variants also British anonymise

anonymized; anonymizing

transitive verb

: to remove identifying information from (something, such as computer data) so that the original source cannot be known : to make (something) anonymous

There's an incredible amount of data in your travel profile. So they improved security and created a sophisticated way to anonymize data.

—Dana Hawkins

anonymization noun

also British anonymisation

ə-ˌnä-nə-mə-ˈzā-shən 

anonymizer noun

also British anonymiser

Examples of anonymize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The family, speaking on camera for the first time, has to be anonymized because of a court order, but instead of silhouetting them, Reed fills the screen with just their eyes. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 July 2025

The data, which is aggregated and anonymized, doesn't directly track Amazon's sales but does reflect overall spending and suggest Prime Day demand. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 12 July 2025

Once the data is no longer needed, it is either securely deleted or anonymized to prevent identification of the data subject. —PC Magazine, 20 June 2025

Even when data is anonymized, some consumers may feel uneasy receiving a pet insurance offer shortly after adopting a dog or cat. —Jon Jacobson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

anonym(ous) + -ize

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anonymize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize