# censorship

/ˈsɛnsɝˌʃɪp/ (US) · /sˈɛnsəʃˌɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/censorship
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. controlling information

noun · CEFR B2

the act of removing or hiding information, books, or films that a government or group thinks are dangerous or offensive.

For teachers: the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, or other media that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.

- The government used strict censorship to stop people from reading news from other countries.
- The regime's heavy-handed censorship of the internet failed to prevent the spread of information via encrypted messaging apps during the protests.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the general practice; countable when referring to a specific system or instance.

### 2. Roman magistrate office

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

the job or power of a 'censor' in ancient Rome.

For teachers: the office or term of a censor in Ancient Rome, responsible for maintaining the census and supervising public morality.

- He held the censorship for eighteen months and conducted a full census of the city.
- During his tenure in the censorship, he removed several senators from the rolls for failing to meet the required moral standards.

Usage: Usually used in historical or academic contexts regarding Roman law.

## Examples

- The government uses strict censorship to control the daily news.
- The author fought against the censorship of her novel, arguing that teenagers needed to read about real-world problems.
- In an era of digital communication, state censorship often relies on sophisticated algorithms to filter out dissenting opinions before they can reach a wider audience.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.