# Does the "Delete" in privacy policies actually mean delete?

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/does-the-delete-in-privacy-policies-actually-mean-delete/38130
**Category:** Questions
**Tags:** please-eli5
**Created:** 2026-05-25T13:20:08Z
**Posts:** 2

## Post 1 by @rjqBV3WTh3dG1j — 2026-05-25T13:20:08Z

I’m currently reading a privacy policy for a big box store, and it claims that they will “delete x information if you submit a deletion request” (paraphrase). However, they don’t seem to define “delete” anywhere, so I would not put it above an American corporation to place a “deleted” label on the data instead of permanently removing it.

Is “delete” such a well defined term that there is no need for a definition? If so, what does it mean?

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## Post 2 by @Valynor — 2026-05-25T13:22:39Z

Data is the new gold so no, you can absolutely **not** trust that delete means they will actually, permanently scrub it from their servers.