censure
C1/C2Formal. Primarily used in legal, political, academic, and official discourse.
Definition
Meaning
strong criticism or official disapproval, especially from a person or body in authority.
As a noun: formal expression of strong disapproval. As a verb: to criticize harshly or formally, often in an official context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a formal, severe, and often public judgment. It often carries the weight of an institution or official body. It is not casual criticism but suggests a process and a consequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the word identically in meaning and part of speech. Spelling and pronunciation are standard.
Connotations
Identical strong formal connotation. The process of censure in the US Senate or UK Parliament carries similar gravity.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to frequent media coverage of Congressional/Senate censure motions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
censure [sb] for [sth]censure [sth] as [adj/noun]be censured by [authority]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a vote of no confidence (related concept, more severe than censure in parliamentary systems)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board passed a motion of censure against the CEO for the financial scandal.
Academic
The historian's methodology was subjected to severe censure by her peers.
Everyday
(Rare in informal everyday use) His behaviour was so bad it drew censure from the entire neighbourhood association.
Technical
The judge may censure an attorney for misconduct during proceedings.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee voted to censure the MP for breaching the code of conduct.
- The report was censured for its lack of rigour.
American English
- The Senate moved to censure the senator for his conduct.
- The bar association censured the lawyer for ethical violations.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No true adjective form. Use 'censuring' as participle: 'The censuring motion passed.'
American English
- No true adjective form. Use 'censurable' (deserving censure) or 'censuring'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher's censure made the student feel very ashamed.
- The journalist faced official censure for publishing the story without verifying facts.
- His actions deserved the censure they received.
- Despite the risk of censure from her party, the minister voted according to her conscience.
- The academic paper escaped serious censure only because of the author's eminent reputation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SENSEI (teacher/authority) giving a severe, formal reprimand to a student. CENSURE is what the authority does.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM IS A PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT/BURDEN ('He faced censure', 'The weight of public censure').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'цензура' (censorship). 'Censure' is criticism/disapproval. 'Censorship' is suppression of information.
Common Mistakes
- Using it interchangeably with 'criticize' in casual contexts. 'My mum censured me for being late' is too formal.
- Confusing the noun and verb forms in sentence structure: Incorrect: 'He gave a censure to the politician.' Correct: 'He censured the politician.' or 'He issued a censure...'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'censure' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Censure' is strong criticism or formal disapproval. 'Censor' (verb) and 'censorship' (noun) refer to suppressing or removing parts of books, films, etc., deemed objectionable.
It is very formal. In everyday speech, words like 'criticise', 'tell off', or 'slate' are more common. Using 'censure' might sound overly dramatic or technical.
In politics, a 'censure' is a formal reprimand for specific conduct. A 'vote of no confidence' is typically more severe, questioning the overall ability to lead and often forcing a resignation or election.
It is primarily a formal, reputational punishment. It expresses official disapproval but does not usually carry fines or jail time by itself, though it can be a step in a process that leads to further penalties like disbarment or expulsion.