redact
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to compose or draft (an edict, proclamation, etc)
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to put (a literary work, etc) into appropriate form for publication; edit
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have redactedperfect
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has redactedperfect 3rd person singular
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am redactingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been redactingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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redactssingular 3rd person
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are redactingprogressive
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have been redactingperfect progressive
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is redactingprogressive 3rd person singular
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redactingparticiple
Past
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had redactedperfect
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was redactingprogressive singular
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redactedparticiple
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redactedsimple
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had been redactingperfect progressive
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were redactingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of redact
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin redāctus (past participle of redigere “to lead back”), equivalent to red- red- + āctus, past participle of agere “to drive, move, lead”; see act
Explanation
To redact is to arrange or edit text in a written document. Don't get too attached to every word in your rough draft; your teacher will expect you to redact it before handing in your final paper. Redact refers to any kind revising or editing that makes a document better, usually for publication. When you see the prefix re-, you know the word is going to refer to something either being done again or retracted. You can think of redact as redoing writing or taking back some of what was originally said. You'll often see the word redact being used with the prepositions in or into. You might take several documents and redact them into a single one.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While your mother’s bank may decide to redact certain sensitive transaction details, it cannot refuse to disclose all accounting.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
According to a report by the Washington Post, Patel has directed agents in the bureau’s San Francisco office to redact the case files for public release.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026
The Justice Department did redact her name as the sender and receiver in most emails, but mistakenly left it in the body of some messages.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 2026
Griffin also confirmed that the large bundle of documents released last month had been temporarily removed from the government website "to redact some additional information".
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
"The Rédacteur vill not redact long, hein?" he said presently.
From Children of the Ghetto A Study of a Peculiar People by Zangwill, Israel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
