erase data

[ih-RAYS DAY-tuh]
verb phrase
apagar dados
1. to remove or delete information stored in a computer, device, or storage system permanently or temporarily
I need to erase data from my phone before selling it.
Preciso apagar dados do meu telefone antes de vendê-lo.
2. to clear or wipe stored information to make space or for security purposes
The company decided to erase data older than five years.
A empresa decidiu apagar dados com mais de cinco anos.
3. to remove digital information to destroy evidence or maintain privacy
Make sure to erase data securely using encryption tools.
Certifique-se de apagar dados com segurança usando ferramentas de criptografia.
In Brazil, both 'apagar' and 'deletar' are widely understood in tech contexts, with 'apagar' being more traditional Portuguese and 'deletar' reflecting English influence in computing terminology. In corporate and governmental contexts, 'eliminar dados' is preferred for its formality. Data privacy and GDPR compliance have made 'erase data' increasingly important in business vocabulary across Portuguese-speaking countries.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
delete dataremove datawipe dataclear datapurge dataformat
Antonyms / Antônimos
save databackup datapreserve datarecover data

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
apagar dados
most common and standard translation
Brazil - Tech context
deletar dados
commonly used in IT environments, borrowed from English 'delete'
Brazil - Formal/Legal
eliminar dados
used in formal documents and legal contexts
Portugal
eliminar dados / apagar dados
both forms acceptable; 'eliminar' slightly more formal

Related Words

storagedatabasefilebackupencryptiondeletionmemoryserver

Related Idioms & Phrases

erase data from existence
wipe the slate clean
leave no digital footprint
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