bowdlerize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; critical, literary, or historical.
Quick answer
What does “bowdlerize” mean?
To remove or alter parts of a text considered vulgar, offensive, or politically sensitive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To remove or alter parts of a text considered vulgar, offensive, or politically sensitive.
To sanitize or censor artistic, literary, or media content in a prudish, heavy-handed, or self-righteous manner, often resulting in artistic or informational loss.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical. The term originates from Thomas Bowdler, a British editor, so the cultural reference is perhaps slightly more immediate in British English, but it is equally common in American critical discourse.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both dialects, implying clumsy, prudish, or ideologically driven censorship.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech but common in literary criticism, media studies, and historical analysis in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bowdlerize” in a Sentence
[Someone] bowdlerizes [something][Something] is bowdlerized[Something] has been bowdlerized for [an audience/purpose]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowdlerize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Victorian publisher chose to bowdlerize Shakespeare's plays for family reading.
- They had to bowdlerise the novel's racy dialogues before it could be serialised in the magazine.
American English
- The studio bowdlerized the classic film to secure a PG rating.
- Early textbook editions often bowdlerized historical accounts to present a simpler narrative.
adjective
British English
- We studied the original play, not a bowdlerised edition.
- The bowdlerised version of the song lost all its satirical edge.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used critically regarding the sanitization of reports or public statements.
Academic
Common in literary criticism, media studies, and historiography to discuss censorship.
Everyday
Very rare. Used by educated speakers discussing film edits or book alterations.
Technical
Used in publishing, library science, and film classification contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowdlerize”
- Misspelling: 'bowlderize', 'bawdlerize'.
- Mispronunciation: placing stress on the second syllable.
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'edit' rather than a pejorative term for excessive censorship.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from Dr. Thomas Bowdler (1754–1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare's works called 'The Family Shakespeare', removing all material he considered improper.
Yes, almost invariably. It implies the censorship is excessive, misguided, prudish, or damaging to the original work's meaning or artistic value. A neutral term would be 'expurgate' or 'edit'.
'Censor' is a broader, more neutral term for official suppression. 'Bowdlerize' is a specific type of censorship, often done by individuals or publishers, motivated by moral or social propriety and resulting in a sanitized but inferior version.
Yes, the term is commonly extended to film, television, art, music, and even historical narratives. For example, 'The museum was accused of bowdlerizing the exhibition to avoid political backlash.'
To remove or alter parts of a text considered vulgar, offensive, or politically sensitive.
Bowdlerize is usually formal; critical, literary, or historical. in register.
Bowdlerize: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaʊdlərʌɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊdləˌraɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bowdlerized version”
- “To suffer the bowdler's hand”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a prudish man named **Bowdler** with a pair of **scissors**, **-izing** (making) a book 'safe' by cutting out all the 'naughty' bits.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENSORSHIP IS SURGERY/CUTTING (to bowdlerize is to perform an operation that removes the 'diseased' or 'unhealthy' parts of a text).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of the verb 'to bowdlerize'?