Meaning & use
redacted text
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablelegal
Written material in which certain words or passages have been hidden or removed, usually to protect secrets or private details before publication.
Grammar: Mass noun: some redacted text, not a redacted text, though 'a redacted version' works.
Patterns
- redacted text in something
- the redacted text of something
The released memo was mostly redacted text, with only a few lines readable.
Journalists asked the court to explain the redacted text in the report.
The black bars covered all redacted text containing personal addresses.
noununcountable
The hidden or blacked-out portions themselves, as opposed to the visible rest of a document.
Grammar: Refers to the missing part: the redacted text remains secret.
Patterns
- unredact the redacted text
Nobody outside the agency could read the redacted text.
Experts tried to guess the redacted text from its length.
Common combinations
- heavily redacted text
- The lawyers received heavily redacted text with few names left.
- remove redacted text
- The editor removed redacted text before the file was uploaded.
- lines of redacted text
- Pages of lines of redacted text frustrated the reporters.
- release redacted text
- The agency agreed to release redacted text of the memo.
- a redacted version
- A redacted version of the report was published online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- censored text
- This suggests the removal is mainly to suppress ideas or opinions, while redacted text is usually to protect privacy or security.
- blacked-out passages
- This describes the physical look of the editing rather than the legal process.
- edited text
- This is much broader and covers any changes, not only hiding information.
Opposites
Word family
- redact verb
- to hide or remove parts of a document
- redaction noun
- the act of redacting, or a redacted passage
- redactor noun
- a person who edits or prepares a text for release
- unredacted adjective
- without any parts hidden
Commonly confused: redacted text or edited text?
redacted text vs edited text
Edited text may have changes for style or length. Redacted text specifically has information hidden or removed.
Practice
A lawyer hands over a report with names blacked out to protect witnesses. The blacked-out sections are best called:
Choose one answer.
Redacted text means material deliberately hidden. Revised text may only be improved, and quoted or summarized text does not involve hiding anything.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “redacted text”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.