redact
This term is most frequently encountered in legal, governmental, and journalistic contexts. It carries a strong connotation of security and censorship, specifically the act of blacking out or removing sensitive data to protect privacy or national security before a document is made public. While it can refer to general editing for publication, this broader sense is less common in modern usage than the specific act of obscuring information. The process implies a formal, often mandatory, review of a text to ensure compliance with legal or ethical standards.
Meanings
To edit a text for publication, often by removing or obscuring sensitive, confidential, or private information.
"The lawyer had to redact the names of the witnesses from the court documents before they were released to the public."