redact

/ɹɪˈdækt/

//ɹɪˈdækt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"redact" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“redact” is an uncommon English word, ranked #93,071 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#93,071
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To censor, to black out or remove parts of a document while leaving the remainder.

Key facts for redact
PropertyValue
Headwordredact
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈdækt/
Letters6
Frequency rank#93,071
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “redact” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). redact lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for redact is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈdækt/. Corpus data places it at rank #93,071 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 10 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

redact doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. It is not paired with a close-neighbour confusable in our dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old French redacter, from Latin redactus, perfect passive participle of redigō (“drive, lead, collect, reduce”), from re- (“back”) + agō (“put in motion, drive”). Piecewise doublet of react. The correct English form is redact, spelled R-E-D-A-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To censor, to black out or remove parts of a document while leaving the remainder.
  2. 2
    To black out legally protected sections of text in a document provided to opposing counsel, typically as part of the discovery process.
  3. 3
    To reduce to form, as literary matter; to digest and put in shape (matter for publication); to edit.
  4. 4
    To draw up or frame a decree, statement, etc.
  5. 5
    To bring together in one unit; to combine or bring together into one.
  6. 6
    To gather or organize works or ideas into a unified whole; to collect, order, or write in a written document or to put into a particular written form.
  7. 7
    To insert or assimilate into a written system or scheme.
  8. 8
    To bring an area of study within the comprehension capacity of a person.
  9. 9
    To reduce to a particular condition or state, especially one that is undesirable.
  10. 10
    To reduce something physical to a certain form, especially by destruction.

Etymology

From Old French redacter, from Latin redactus, perfect passive participle of redigō (“drive, lead, collect, reduce”), from re- (“back”) + agō (“put in motion, drive”). Piecewise doublet of react.

This word in other languages

redactar(Español)censurer(Français)bearbeiten(Deutsch)censurar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "redact"?
"redact" is spelled R-E-D-A-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈdækt/.
What does "redact" mean?
As a verb, "redact" means: To censor, to black out or remove parts of a document while leaving the remainder.
How do you pronounce "redact"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "redact" is /ɹɪˈdækt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "redact"?
From Old French redacter, from Latin redactus, perfect passive participle of redigō (“drive, lead, collect, reduce”), from re- (“back”) + agō (“put in motion, drive”). Piecewise doublet of react. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “redact”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-D-A-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈdækt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list