Word
censured
Phoneticscen·sured, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɛnʃɝd/
UK/sˈɛnʃəd/
Definition
v. to criticize someone in a strong and official way because they did something wrong. You use this when a group with authority says a person's behaviour was unacceptable.
v. to express severe official disapproval of a person or action, often through a formal statement or vote.
Examples
“The council has censured the mayor for lying.”
“After the investigation, the ethics committee censured the senator for using public money for travel.”
“Although the parliament censured the minister for misleading the public, the motion carried no legal penalty and served mainly as a formal expression of disapproval.”
Examples
simple
“The council has censured the mayor for lying.”
contextual
“After the investigation, the ethics committee censured the senator for using public money for travel.”
complex
“Although the parliament censured the minister for misleading the public, the motion carried no legal penalty and served mainly as a formal expression of disapproval.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “censured” in context.
Verb
01. be censured
“Any lawyer who breaks confidentiality rules can be censured by the bar.”
verb + verb
02. censure for misconduct
“The panel decided to censure the official for misconduct.”
verb + prep + noun
03. committee censured
“The ethics committee censured the director for concealing conflicts of interest.”
noun + verb
04. get censured
“The presenter got censured for making offensive remarks on air.”
verb + verb
05. parliament censured
“Parliament censured the minister over the mishandling of relief funds.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. formally censured
“The officer was formally censured after the disciplinary hearing.”
adv + verb
Noun
07. censure behaviour
“The board agreed to censure behaviour that undermined public trust.”
verb + noun
08. censure conduct
“The authority voted to censure conduct that violated professional standards.”
verb + noun
09. be formally censured for misconduct
“The executive was formally censured for misconduct after the audit.”
10. be publicly censured by council
“The councillor was publicly censured by the council for leaking documents.”
11. be severely censured over behaviour
“The headteacher was severely censured over behaviour towards staff.”
12. face a motion to censure
“The president faces a motion to censure over abuse of power.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The Republican National Committee on Friday censured U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger for participating in a congressional inquiry into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn his 2020 election defeat.” “The IMF had censured Argentina for reporting unreliable data in 2013.” “The 35-nation board of the U.N. nuclear watchdog censured Iran on Thursday for defying international demands to curb uranium enrichment and failing to address mounting disquiet about its suspected research into atomic bombs.” Related words
- 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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