redaction

noun

re·​dac·​tion ri-ˈdak-shən 

1

: an act or instance of redacting something

2

: a work that has been redacted : edition, version

redactional

ri-ˈdak-sh(ə-)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

The four letters were sent on separate days in July along with subpoenas for four different inmates, whose names were redacted as part of typical privacy redactions under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. — Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026

Officials said the report, with limited redactions, would be posted on the county's website. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

There is a law enforcement reason for that redaction, according to the officials. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026

Crosby argued those redactions are no longer needed because the jurors already spoke in open court, and some have also appeared in TV interviews and documentaries. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026

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

Rhymes for redaction

• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction
• impaction
• inaction
• infraction

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!