censor
gb/sˈɛnsɚ/ us/sˈɛnsɚ/
B2
English
~ 8400
cenzúráz, cenzor, cenzúrahatóság
VERB
B2
1
cenzúráz
B2
Usage pattern:
to censor [content]
The government tried to censor news reports about the protests.
A kormány megpróbálta cenzúrázni a tüntetésekről szóló tudósításokat.
The film was censored before it could be shown on national television.
A filmet cenzúrázták, mielőtt bemutathatták volna az országos televízióban.
Social media companies are under pressure to censor hate speech on their platforms.
During the war, the army censored letters sent home by soldiers.
The newspaper refused to censor the interview, despite political pressure.
Learner examples
The government decided to censor the movie.
A kormány úgy döntött, hogy cenzúrázza a filmet.
The school does not censor student newspapers.
Az iskola nem cenzúrázza a diákújságokat.
Some websites are censored in that country.
The TV station censored part of his speech.
They censored a few words from the radio show.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "censor" with "sensor" (a device that detects things) or with the verb "censure" (to criticize formally). "Censor" is about blocking or cutting information before it reaches people. Also, some learners use an incorrect object, e.g. saying "censor people" when it is more natural to say "censor what people say" or "censor the speech".
Meaning
remove unacceptable parts of content
Collocations
censor the media
|censor the internet
|censor online content
|censor political speech
|heavily censor
|strictly censor
Synonyms
suppress (Can mean to fully prevent information from being known, not only to edit or cut parts of it.)
|
ban (Focuses on completely forbidding something rather than editing parts of it.)
|
redact (More technical and formal; especially used for blacking out sensitive information in official documents.)
Antonyms
publish (Means to make information or content available to the public without blocking it.)
Themes
politics
|media
|law
|communication
Definition
to check books, films, or messages and cut or block parts that a government, company, or other people do not allow others to see or hear
To examine books, films, messages, or other forms of communication and remove, block, or alter parts considered morally, politically, or otherwise unacceptable by an authority before they are made public.
NOUN
B2
2
cenzor
B2
Usage pattern:
a [type] censor of [content]
The film was cut heavily after the national censor reviewed it.
A filmet erősen megvágták, miután az országos cenzúrahatóság átnézte.
Under the dictatorship, the press had to send every article to a state censor.
A diktatúra alatt a sajtónak minden cikket el kellett küldenie egy állami cenzornak.
The book never reached readers because the military censor banned its publication.
As an online content censor, she reviews thousands of posts each day.
The playwright clashed repeatedly with the theater censor over his political jokes.
Learner examples
The film censor said the movie was too violent.
A filmcenzor szerint a film túl erőszakos volt.
Under the old government, every newspaper had a censor.
A régi kormány idején minden újságnak volt cenzora.
The censor cut three scenes from the movie.
Writers were afraid of the state censor.
The letter was read by a military censor before it was sent.
Common mistake:
Learners often think a "censor" is always a single person, but it can also be an official board or office. There is also confusion between "censor" (person who cuts or blocks content) and "sensor" (a device) because they sound similar.
Meaning
official who removes unacceptable content
Collocations
film censor
|government censor
|state censor
|military censor
|religious censor
|official censor
Synonyms
regulator (A broader term for an authority that controls or oversees an area, sometimes including control of media content.)
|
gatekeeper (More metaphorical; suggests someone who controls what information gets through, not necessarily by cutting specific parts.)
Antonyms
publisher (A person or company that makes content public, usually without the role of blocking or cutting it for political or moral reasons.)
Themes
politics
|media
|law
|communication
Definition
a person or official group whose job is to check books, films, or messages and cut or block parts that are not allowed
A person or official body whose job is to examine books, films, messages, or other communication and remove, block, or alter parts considered unacceptable before they are made public.
Grammar
Dictionary form
censor
IPA
GB/sˈɛnsɚ/
US/sˈɛnsɚ/
Syllables & stress
cen - sor (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: censor
- Plural: censors
Verb
- Base: censor
- 3rd Person Singular: censors
- Present Participle: censoring
- Past: censored
Word family
Forms
censors
noun
censoring
verb
censored
verb
Core family
censorship
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
uncensored
adjective
Advanced or less common
censorious
adjective
censoriously
adverb
Expressions
censor oneself
1/sˈɛnsɚ wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
censor your own words
to decide by yourself not to say or write something because you think it may be dangerous or cause problems
Examples
- In public, he censors himself and avoids talking about politics.
- Writers sometimes censor themselves when they know the government is watching.
- She felt she had to censor herself during the interview.
self-censor
1/sˈɛlf sˈɛnsɚ/
fixed phrase
limit what you yourself say
to choose not to say or write something because you are afraid it will cause trouble or make people angry
Examples
- Many journalists in the country now self-censor to avoid being arrested.
- On social media, she often self-censors because she worries about losing her job.
- Artists may self-censor when they fear a negative reaction from the public.