anonymize

[ uh-non-uh-mahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, a·non·y·mized, a·non·y·miz·ing.

1. to block or eliminate identifying information from (test results, data, authorship, etc.), especially for purposes of statistical analysis, product appraisal, or personal privacy; to make anonymous:

   anonymizing cancer patients’ medical histories for our research files; software that helps you anonymize your online activity.

anonymize

/ əˈnɒnɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. tr to carry out or organize in such a way as to preserve anonymity

   anonymized AIDS screening

Other Words From

• a·non·y·mi·za·tion noun
• a·non·y·miz·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anonymize¹

First recorded in 1855–60 for an earlier sense; the current sense was first recorded in 1970–75; anonym(ous) ( def ) + -ize ( def )

Example Sentences

After commiserating with my editor later that night, we decided to anonymize their account and strip most of the identifying details out of this column.

From Slate

They will also go to “great pains” to anonymize officers and subjects, Graham said.

From Los Angeles Times

Knight says the analysis shows that the current methods microbiome researchers use to filter out human DNA and anonymize samples simply don’t work well enough.

From Science Magazine

Update, December 12, 2022: This piece has been updated to anonymize the names of two sources.

From Salon

But Jackson Stephens, a friend and lawyer who is representing Olson, said Olson had always followed the Institutional Review Board process and worked to anonymize patient medical data before it was used in research or shared with a third party.

From Salon