censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

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

The film, however, ran into big problems with Italian censors in what became the first of many battles Brass faced with censorship for various reasons. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026

Noah Jones, who is now 16 and no longer subject to the ban, told reporters outside court the legislation amounted to a government step toward censorship. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

But in Israel at least, creatives have been stymied in recent years by a plethora of measures that have left them squeezed between censorship at home and international boycotts. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026

The state censorship, which many domestic fans of LaLiga or the NBA might find off-putting, is a government lever that keeps athletes and executives rushing to perform damage control. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

censor entry 1 + -ship

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing censorship

• anti-censorship
• self-censorship

Rhymes for censorship

• authorship
• battleship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip
• internship

Kids Definition

censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

: the system or practice of censoring

Medical Definition

censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

: 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