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 But the Supreme Court must now decide whether those efforts go too far — when the government, in other words, veers into censorship on social media that violates the First Amendment. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Pushing the boundaries of creative censorship, it is still considered Nine Inch Nails’ most daring and uncompromising album. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024 During the hour-long interview, Lemon asked Musk about everything from his drug use and censorship to the Great Replacement Theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 Many of the efforts to target books came from politicized groups or individuals demanding the censorship of multiple titles -- often dozens or hundreds at a time -- which drove the surge in book challenges, the ALA said. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2024 Still, a legal movement has arisen to challenge what many conservatives allege is a vast liberal censorship regime. Ann Marimow, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Because of this regulatory crackdown, some companies are looking to expand in foreign markets, like the U.S., where censorship is less of an issue. Faye Bradley, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 In any case, this censorship snafu, though soon sorted out, was not what the occasion called for. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 There are no specific restrictions on Taiwanese movies playing in mainland China as long as titles receive mainland censorship approval. Patrick Frater, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'censorship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near censorship

Cite this Entry

“Censorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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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