Word
censor
Phoneticscen·sor, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛnsɝ/
UK/sˈɛnsɐ/
Media
Definition
v. to remove parts of a book, film, or message that are considered offensive or inappropriate. You use this when an authority decides something should not be seen or read.
v. to suppress or remove parts of a text, image, or broadcast deemed objectionable, offensive, or sensitive. Transitive; typically used in passive constructions when the agent is unspecified.
Examples
“The school decided to censor the history textbook.”
“The publisher had to censor several pages of the novel before it could be sold in schools.”
“Critics argued that the government's decision to censor the documentary violated press freedom and stifled public debate on the controversial policy.”
Examples
simple
“The school decided to censor the history textbook.”
contextual
“The publisher had to censor several pages of the novel before it could be sold in schools.”
complex
“Critics argued that the government's decision to censor the documentary violated press freedom and stifled public debate on the controversial policy.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is frequently used in the passive voice.
Real-World Examples
“Videos of the disaster, which tore through the border area between Tibet and Nepal, have been removed from social media by China’s censors.” “Some were powerful: indeed, government officials became regular readers, as they could only censor what they could understand.” Etymology
The noun is borrowed from Latin cēnsor (“magistrate; critic”), from cēnseō (“to give an opinion, judge; to assess, reckon; to decree, determine”) + -sor (variant of -tor (suffix forming masculine agent nouns)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱens- (“to announce, proclaim; to put in order”). The English word is cognate with Late Middle English sensour, Proto-Iranian cánhati (“to declare; to explain”), Sanskrit शंसति (śaṃsati, “to declare”). The verb is derived from the noun.
From an incorrect translation of German Zensur (“censorship”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/censor