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

Blanche has acknowledged the redaction errors and denied that any of the materials were withheld to protect Epstein Associates. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 July 2026

But almost immediately, the trove of new documents posted on the White House’s website—some with heavy redactions—told a much more complicated story. — Philip Elliott, Time, 17 July 2026

Blanche faces mounting scrutiny over the Justice Department’s troubled release of millions of Epstein case files, including redaction errors that briefly exposed nude photos of potential victims. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Epstein files included naked images of accusers Ahead of the DOJ's largest release of files, numerous Epstein accusers pushed for the release, but some also feared irreversible mistakes in redactions that could jeopardize their privacy. — Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 16 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

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