Origin: Germanic Old English suffix
Censorship has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
counterintelligence achieved by banning or deleting any information of value to the enemy
"The intelligence agency implemented strict censorship on all outgoing communications to prevent the enemy from accessing valuable tactical data."
deleting parts of publications or correspondence or theatrical performances
"The government imposed strict censorship by banning entire chapters from books deemed politically dangerous."
The use of state or group power to control freedom of expression or press, such as passing laws to prevent media from being published or propagated.
"The government imposed strict censorship by enacting new laws that banned any newspaper articles criticizing the regime."
In plain English: Censorship is when someone stops people from seeing, hearing, or reading certain information because they think it might be harmful or offensive.
"The government imposed strict censorship on all news broadcasts during the war."
Usage: Censorship often carries a negative connotation implying unjust suppression, whereas the neutral term redaction is preferred when describing the removal of specific words for privacy or security without political intent. Avoid using censorship to describe voluntary self-editing; instead, use terms like self-censorship or editorial discretion in those contexts.
The word censorship comes from Latin censor, meaning an official who supervised public morals and finances, combined with the suffix -ship to denote a state or condition. It entered English through French in the 16th century to describe the act of suppressing information deemed objectionable by authority figures.