Censure Meaning
/ˈsɛn.ʃə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe act of blaming, criticizing, or condemning as wrong; reprehension.
nounOfficial reprimand.
Sentence Examples
Will you screen me from public censure?
I proposed a vote of censure on the government.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The committee voted to ____ the senator for his unethical financial dealings.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The politician faced strong ____ from his colleagues after his error.
Word Origin & History
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.”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Censure, which arraigns the public actions and the private motives of princes, has ascribed to envy, a conduct which might be attributed to the prudence and moderation of Hadrian."
— 1776, Edward Gibbon, chapter I, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC:
"Both the censure and the praise were merited."
— 1856 December, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Samuel Johnson”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871, →OCLC:
"After his actions were challenged by foreign governments and Parliament initially tried to put a stop to his action, Denman returned home and argued his case with enough force that, by 1848, the Royal Navy was handed active permission and encouragement to raze every last slave factory they could find to the ground, and full authority to stop any ship, of any flag, that was thought to be a slaver, with a guarantee with^([sic]) no censure from the government."
— 2018 December 1, Drachinifel, 9:45 from the start, in Anti-Slavery Patrols - The West Africa Squadron, archived from the original on 29 Nov 2024:
"He that hath past / So many Cenſures is novv come at laſt / To haue your princely Eares, grace you him; […]"
— c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], “The Prologue Spoken at Court”, in Tho[mas] Heywood, editor, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, , signature [A4], recto:
"[E]xcommunication […] being the chief ecclesiastical censure"
— 1679–1715, Gilbert Burnet, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of the Reformation of the Church of England., London: […] T[homas] H[odgkin] for Richard Chiswell, […]:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The committee voted to ____ the senator for his unethical financial dealings.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The politician faced strong ____ from his colleagues after his error.