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 Sun Sentinel asked other public hospitals for the same information, W-2s, for their CEOs, and they were provided without redactions. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Independent journalist Katie Phang is suing the Justice Department, seeking the release of more files as well as an explanation of redactions and removals. — Daniel Ruetenik, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026

The Nashville Department of Emergency Communications released with some redactions the batch of audio recordings from dispatchers. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

On the other is Aaron Greenspan, founder of legal document website PlainSite, who argues more documents should be released, with fewer redactions. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 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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