dox

[ doks ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a person’s identifying information, as address, phone number, name, or alias, when maliciously posted online to target that person for pranks, fraud, or other harassment.

verb (used with or without object)

, Slang.

, doxed, dox·ing.

1. to publish the private personal information of (another person) or reveal the identity of (an online poster) without the consent of that individual:

   The professor was doxed by a bitter student who failed her class.

   Several players doxed the programmer because the final version of the game disappointed them.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dox¹

First recorded in 2000–05; alteration of docs, plural of doc (shortening of document ( def ) )

Example Sentences

The website invites informants to report on teachers who share “objectionable curricula, policies, or programs”; it also posts personally identifying information that can easily be used to dox or harass educators.

From Slate

But he has already violated the order 10 times and sent clear signals to surrogates and supporters, who are not only expressing Trump's thoughts on his behalf but also trying to dox and threaten the 12 New Yorkers who voted to convict him.

From Salon

At least one user tried to dox him by publishing his address, but outed the location of his parcel locker instead.

From BBC

At the same time, Pratt and his team would dox the women on another site he controlled, releasing their names, email, home address and even biometric details including height and weight to hordes of trolls who linked it on 4chan and similar forums — efforts attorneys say were intended both to silence the victims and to drive traffic to the subscription site.

From Los Angeles Times

The Australian government’s online safety watchdog defines doxxing, which is also known as “dropping dox” or documents, as the “intentional online exposure of an individual’s identity, private information or personal details without their consent.”

From Seattle Times