censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship How to pronounce censorship (audio)
1
a
: the institution, system, or practice of censoring
They oppose government censorship.
b
: the actions or practices of censors
especially : censorial control exercised repressively
censorship that has … permitted a very limited dispersion of facts Philip Wylie
2
: the office, power, or term of a Roman censor
3
: exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

Examples of censorship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most major news brands decline Pentagon censorship rules A dozen or more major media companies, including conservative-leaning newsrooms, have refused to sign a pledge to only report officially approved news from the Pentagon. Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025 That July version of the bill drew heavy opposition from a vast coalition of education groups, from teachers unions to school boards, civil rights advocates and Muslim community organizations, who feared censorship of pro-Palestinian voices and infringement upon academic freedom. Calmatters, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025 An episode of The Good Fight about censorship in China was even censored in China. Scarlett Harris, Time, 13 Oct. 2025 When Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night show on ABC after a near-weeklong suspension, some cheered it as a triumph of free speech over the oppressive reach of government censorship. Eric Deggans, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for censorship

Word History

Etymology

censor entry 1 + -ship

First Known Use

circa 1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of censorship was circa 1591

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Censorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

censorship

noun
cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship How to pronounce censorship (audio)
: the system or practice of censoring

Medical Definition

censorship

noun
cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship How to pronounce censorship (audio)
: exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

Legal Definition

censorship

noun
cen·​sor·​ship
: the institution, system, or practice of censoring compare freedom of speech, prior restraint
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