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

Pro-Kremlin politicians accuse ⁠the West of trying to destabilize Russia ⁠before the elections and say that some censorship is necessary ‌to safeguard ​national unity at a ‌time when Moscow is locked ​in an existential struggle over Ukraine. — Reuters, NBC news, 20 July 2026

The result was a patchwork of stories that mattered to people living through extreme violence, death and censorship. — Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

Free-speech advocates and some lawmakers have warned that the provisions would create opportunities for unauthorized surveillance or censorship. — Victoria Baeza Garcia, The Washington Examiner, 20 July 2026

On July 29, 1938, Irvin Shapiro duly applied for the imprimatur from Hollywood’s censorship regime. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 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