Word
censure
Phoneticscen·sure, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛnʃɝ/
UK/sˈɛnʃɐ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a formal statement or action that shows you disapprove of someone's behavior. It is usually used when a group or leader officially criticizes someone for doing something wrong.
n. a formal expression of disapproval or criticism, typically issued by an authority or a group. Often implies a lack of support or a formal reprimand.
Examples
“The committee issued a public censure of the manager.”
“After the scandal, the board of directors voted to place a formal censure on the CEO's record.”
“The senator faced a rare censure from his own party for failing to disclose his private interests during the legislative debate on the new tax law.”
Examples
simple
“The committee issued a public censure of the manager.”
contextual
“After the scandal, the board of directors voted to place a formal censure on the CEO's record.”
complex
“The senator faced a rare censure from his own party for failing to disclose his private interests during the legislative debate on the new tax law.”
Real-World Examples
“Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has removed Economic Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza from his post after the minister was censured by the country’s Congress.” “A court lady was more likely to suffer censure for a lapse of taste in the colors of her robes than for her numerous lovers.” “Literature deeply matters and I believe literature is in peril because of social censure.” “Jack Straw, the foreign secretary at the time, and who largely escaped Chilcot censure, said that Blair was never “gung ho” about war.” Etymology
From 1350–1400 Middle English censure, from Old French, from Latin censūra (“censor's office or assessment”), from censēre (“to consider, to assess, to value, to judge, to tax, etc.”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/censure