censorship
B2Formal to neutral, common in academic, political, and journalistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The suppression or prohibition of speech, writing, or other forms of communication, typically by a governing or institutional authority, on the grounds that it is harmful, objectionable, or undesirable.
The practice or system of examining and controlling the content of books, films, news, internet content, etc., to remove or restrict what is considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security. Can also be applied metaphorically to any powerful, stifling control over expression (e.g., 'self-censorship').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun denoting a state, system, or practice. Often carries a negative, critical connotation in democratic societies, implying an infringement on freedom. Can be neutral or positive in contexts emphasizing protection (e.g., of children).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences; concept and term are identical. Spelling conventions of related words may differ (e.g., censorise/censorize, but the noun is standard 'censorship').
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties regarding state control. Historical contexts may differ (e.g., references to wartime censorship, BBC vs. FCC regulations).
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, given its relevance to politics, media, and law.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
censorship of + NOUN (censorship of the press)censorship by + AGENT (censorship by the government)censorship on + TOPIC/MEDIUM (censorship on social media)under + censorship (living under strict censorship)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A veil of censorship descended.”
- “The long arm of censorship reached even private letters.”
- “To operate under the shadow of censorship.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts of corporate content moderation or compliance (e.g., 'The platform's censorship of controversial ads sparked debate.').
Academic
Frequent in political science, media studies, history, and law, discussing theories, case studies, and impacts of censorship.
Everyday
Used in discussions about news, social media policies, book bans, film ratings, and freedom issues.
Technical
In IT/networking: 'content filtering'; in law: 'prior restraint,' 'obscenity laws.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The board decided to censor several scenes for violence.
- Authorities may censor reports during a crisis.
American English
- The network censored the explicit language in the broadcast.
- They tried to censor his criticism of the policy.
adverb
British English
- The film was censored overly strictly by the standards board.
- He spoke censoriously about the new media laws.
American English
- The report was censored unnecessarily, in my opinion.
- She looked at the draft censoriously.
adjective
British English
- The censorial powers of the committee were widely debated.
- He faced censorial pressure from his publishers.
American English
- The censorial attitude of the administration was concerning.
- She wrote about her censorial experiences.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The book had censorship because of bad words.
- Some countries have a lot of censorship.
- The government introduced strict censorship of the internet.
- The film faced censorship and some scenes were cut.
- The newspaper accused the regime of imposing political censorship to control the narrative.
- Artists often struggle against various forms of censorship.
- The study analysed the psychological impact of pervasive self-censorship in authoritarian societies.
- Debates about online censorship hinge on balancing freedom of expression with the prevention of harm.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SENSOR that detects 'bad' speech and a SHIP that carries it away. Censor-SHIP removes content.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENSORSHIP IS A FILTER/BARRIER (straining out impurities), CENSORSHIP IS A SILENCER (suppressing sound), CENSORSHIP IS A PRISON FOR IDEAS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'цензура' in all contexts; Russian 'цензура' can be more historically specific (Soviet). The English term is broader. 'Censorship' is not typically used for personal discretion in choosing words; that's 'self-censorship' or 'being cautious.'
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'cencorship' or 'censurship'. Using it as a verb ('They censorship the film' is wrong; correct: 'They censor the film' or 'They impose censorship on the film').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'censorship' in a modern context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While state censorship is most discussed, censorship can be exercised by private entities (e.g., social media platforms, publishers, corporations), institutions (schools, libraries), or even by individuals (self-censorship).
'Censorship' typically implies a systematic, often authoritative suppression of information for broad ideological, moral, or political reasons. 'Moderation' often refers to the enforcement of specific rules (e.g., against hate speech, spam) within a private forum or platform, though the line can be blurry and subject to debate.
Self-censorship is when an individual or organisation chooses to withhold their own speech or expression due to fear of backlash, punishment, or social or professional repercussions, even in the absence of formal censorship.
Proponents argue that certain forms of censorship can be positive or necessary, such as protecting national security secrets, preventing the incitement of violence, shielding children from harmful content, or prohibiting false advertising. Critics often frame these as 'regulation' or 'protection' rather than censorship.
Collections
Part of a collection
Media Analysis
B2 · 49 words · Critically analyzing media and information.
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