First Known Use: 1526
Dictionary
1censor
noun cen·sor \ˈsen(t)-sər\
: a person who examines books, movies, letters, etc., and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc.
Full Definition of CENSOR
1
: a person who supervises conduct and morals: as a : an official who examines materials (as publications or films) for objectionable matter b : an official (as in time of war) who reads communications (as letters) and deletes material considered sensitive or harmful
2
: one of two magistrates of early Rome acting as census takers, assessors, and inspectors of morals and conduct
3
: a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness
— cen·so·ri·al \sen-ˈsȯr-ē-əl\ adjective
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Origin of CENSOR
Latin, Roman magistrate, from censēre to give as one's opinion, assess; perhaps akin to Sanskrit śaṁsati he praises
Other Occult Terms
2censor
verb
: to examine books, movies, letters, etc., in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc.
cen·soredcen·sor·ing \ˈsen(t)-sə-riŋ, ˈsen(t)s-riŋ\
Full Definition of CENSOR
transitive verb
: to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable <censor the news>; also : to suppress or delete as objectionable <censor out indecent passages>
See censor defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CENSOR
1882
Related to CENSOR
- Synonyms
- bowdlerize, clean (up), expurgate, launder, red-pencil
CENSOR[1] Defined for Kids
1censor
noun cen·sor \ˈsen-sər\
Definition of CENSOR for Kids
: an official who checks writings or movies to take out things considered offensive or immoral
2censor
verb
cen·soredcen·sor·ing
Definition of CENSOR for Kids
: to examine (as a book) to take out things considered offensive or immoral
Medical Dictionary
censor
noun cen·sor \ˈsen(t)-sər\
Medical Definition of CENSOR
: a hypothetical psychic agency that represses unacceptable notions before they reach consciousness
—cen·so·ri·al \sen-ˈsōr-ē-əl, -ˈsȯr-\ adjective
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