black out the sensitive parts

redact

verb|/rɪˈdækt/

To remove or obscure sensitive information before sharing

Examples

In a meeting

Please redact all personal information before circulating this document.

Over coffee

They redacted the names in the email before posting it online.

Why this word

edit

redact specifically means removing or obscuring sensitive information for security/privacy, while edit is general for any revision

censor

redact is technical/legal removal of classified or private information, while censor implies suppressing content for moral or political reasons

remove

redact means officially obscuring sensitive text while keeping the document otherwise intact, while remove is general deletion

Usage tip

Use specifically for removing confidential or sensitive information from documents, not general editing

Etymology

Latin: redactus (brought back), from re- (back) + agere (to drive)

Get a new word every morning

One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.

Related words