censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

1

a

: the institution, system, or practice of censoring

They oppose government censorship.

b

: the actions or practices of censors

especially : censorial control exercised repressively

… censorship that has … permitted a very limited dispersion of facts.

—Philip Wylie

2

: the office, power, or term of a Roman censor

3

: exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

Examples of censorship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Hungarian artists were subject to punishing censorship. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum ceded to censorship requests issued by the Chinese firm that prints the institution’s exhibition catalogues, according to a new report from The Guardian, who unearthed the information via FOIA requests. —News Desk, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026

This program is composed of films on timely matters — issues such as censorship, food shortage, religious freedom — that will be followed by panel discussions featuring filmmakers, community leaders and audience members. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

While censorship restrictions were relatively light in Iraq and Afghanistan, keeping the press close to the troops helped ensure a sympathetic viewpoint. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

censor entry 1 + -ship

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing censorship

• anti-censorship
• self-censorship

Rhymes for censorship

• authorship
• battleship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip
• internship

Kids Definition

censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

: the system or practice of censoring

Medical Definition

censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship ˈsen(t)-sər-ˌship 

: exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

Legal Definition

censorship

noun

cen·​sor·​ship

: the institution, system, or practice of censoring compare freedom of speech, prior restraint