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

Once linkages have been made, data can be anonymized so that those studying sensitive questions aren’t privy to confidential information about specific individuals. —Christopher M. Worsham, Time, 9 June 2025

Always get permission or anonymize details completely, of course. —Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Differential privacy, which injects noise into collected data, is one of the most common methods used for anonymizing data. —ArsTechnica, 1 June 2025

ExpressVPN claims this data is completely anonymized and can’t be tied back to you. —PC Magazine, 19 May 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