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censorship

SEN-suhr-ship /ˈsɛnsəʃɪp/

nounB2GRETOEFLIELTS

Formal

The suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

Implies an official or authoritative act of control, often by a government or institution, aimed at controlling information or expression.

The story behind the word. The word "censorship" comes from the Latin word `censere`, meaning "to assess, to judge, to estimate." In ancient Rome, a "censor" was a magistrate who registered citizens, managed public morals, and supervised public works. Over time, the role of judging public morals evolved into the act of officially examining and suppressing objectionable material, giving us our modern understanding of censorship.

Word relationships

suppression: Broader term, can be informal or formal; censorship is a specific type of suppression.
restriction: General term for limiting something; censorship is a specific, often ideological, restriction on content.

freedom of speech: The right to express oneself without government interference.
transparency: Openness and accessibility of information.

Commonly confused with

editing: Editing is about improving quality, clarity, or style; censorship is about prohibiting content based on perceived harm or unacceptability.

Word family

censor (verb): To examine and suppress unacceptable parts of something.
censor (noun): An official who examines material and suppresses unacceptable parts.

Collocations

strict censorship
government censorship
media censorship
impose censorship
lift censorship
artistic censorship

Example sentences

"During wartime, governments often impose strict censorship on news reports to control public morale and prevent strategic information from reaching the enemy." Discussing historical government control.
"The artist protested the gallery's decision, calling it an act of censorship that stifled creative expression." A critique of artistic freedom.

Memory hook

CEN-sor-ship: A SENior official SHIPs away books they don't like. Senior ships away.

When not to use

Don't use it for informal disagreements or personal preferences about content; it implies a formal, often institutional, act of restriction.

Fun facts

The Roman censors were very powerful and could even remove senators from office for moral failings.