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noun

censure

SEHN-shuh

Censure (noun) means strong, formal criticism or disapproval. Example: “The senator faced censure from his own party over the remarks.”

noun
1
Strong, formal criticism or disapproval.
"The senator faced censure from his own party over the remarks."
verb
1
To criticize or formally reprimand someone.
"The board voted to censure the CEO for his conduct."
"Parliament censured the minister over the scandal."

How to Use Censure

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo formally criticize or condemn someone, usually in an official capacity — or the criticism itself.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with censor: censure means to strongly criticize or officially reprimand, while censor means to remove or block content.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a vote of censure face censure formally censure

Word Forms

censured past tense, censures plural, censures singular

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The senator faced _____ from his own party over the remarks.

Etymology

From Old French censure, from Latin censura, "the office or judgment of a censor."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for censure

See all rhymes for censure →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “censure” mean?

The word “censure” means strong, formal criticism or disapproval. In plain terms, to formally criticize or condemn someone, usually in an official capacity — or the criticism itself.

How do you pronounce “censure”?

“Censure” is pronounced SEHN-shuh (/ˈsɛn.ʃɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “censure” in a sentence?

Here is “censure” used in a sentence: “The senator faced censure from his own party over the remarks.”

What part of speech is “censure”?

Depending on how it is used, “censure” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “censure” come from?

The word “censure” comes from Latin. From Old French censure, from Latin censura, "the office or judgment of a censor.".

How many meanings does “censure” have?

“Censure” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: strong, formal criticism or disapproval.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial