censorship
SEN-ser-ship
/ˈsen.sə.ʃɪp/
The suppression or prohibition of speech, books, news, or art deemed politically or morally objectionable.
Implies authoritative control and suppression of free expression by governments, institutions, or corporate bodies.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, a 'censor' was a high-ranking magistrate whose duty was to count citizens (the census) and regulate public morality. By the 16th century, European rulers established government censors to inspect printed books before publication, preventing the spread of religious heresy and political dissent.
Word relationships
- suppression: Suppression can apply to any force stopping an action, while censorship specifically target information and expression.
- freedom of expression: Freedom of expression protects the right to articulate opinions without government interference or suppression.
Commonly confused with
- editorial control: Editorial control is the publisher's right to select high-quality content, whereas censorship is coercive suppression of objectionable ideas.
Word family
- censor (noun/verb): a person who suppresses material / to suppress material
- censorial (adjective): relating to a censor or censorship
Collocations
- state censorship
- strict censorship
- press censorship
- impose censorship
- evade censorship
Example sentences
- "Journalists voiced concern over growing government censorship that restricted coverage of anti-government protests." Human rights and journalism
- "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in its own citizens." Real citation from political speech
Memory hook
CENSOR = SENSITIVE material silenced by authority. Suppression of speech or print.
When not to use
Do not use to describe voluntary personal restraint or private editorial decisions made for length or clarity.
Fun facts
- The Roman censor Cato the Elder was so notorious for strict moral enforcement that his name became synonymous with harsh judgment.
Related words
Explore more words
censor, suppress, bowdlerize, expurgate, censure, authoritarian
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