Censure
/ˈsenʃər/
nounverbC1
Definition
Censure means to say that someone has done something wrong, usually in a serious or official way. It is more than just saying “I don’t like it”; it is a formal or strong expression of disapproval. People or groups can be censured when their behavior is considered unacceptable or wrong.
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See It in Action
As a noun: an official or strong expression of disapproval
- •The senator faced censure from his colleagues for his misconduct.
- •The company received censure from the government for safety violations.
- •The censure was recorded in the official meeting notes.
As a verb: to express strong disapproval or criticize officially
- •The board censured the manager for breaking the rules.
- •The principal censured the student for cheating on the exam.
- •The council publicly censured the mayor for misuse of funds.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "censure" like "blame," but much stronger and often official, not just a small complaint.
- ✓Imagine a teacher pointing out a student’s serious mistake in front of the whole class, showing strong disapproval.
- ✓It’s the feeling when someone is told they did something wrong in a clear and serious way, making them feel responsible.
- ✓Sounds like "SEN-shur" → imagine a judge saying “Sen-shur!” loudly to stop bad behavior.
- ✓Think of a courtroom or government meeting where someone is publicly criticized for breaking rules.
- ✓NOT like "criticize" (which can be casual or helpful), "censure" is more formal and serious.
- ✓NOT like "praise" (good words), "censure" is about negative judgment.
- ✓NOT like "warn" (a friendly advice), "censure" is a clear statement that someone did wrong.
Try Other Words
- •Criticize: to say what is wrong with someone or something (Use when feedback is less formal or can be helpful)
- •Reprimand: to officially tell someone they did something wrong (Use when the action is formal but may be private)
- •Condemn: to say something is very bad or wrong (Use when expressing strong moral disapproval)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No clear prefix or suffix; the root is "censure"
- •Etymology: From Latin "censura," meaning judgment or assessment
- •Historical development: Originally meant official judgment or review in Roman times; evolved to mean formal disapproval
- •Modern usage: Used in law, politics, and formal settings to express official criticism or blame
Reflect & Connect
•How does the formality of the word "censure" change the way people react to criticism?
•Can censure be helpful to improve behavior, or does it only cause negative feelings?
Fill in the blanks
1.The politician was censured because he ___ the rules of the government.
2.When a company receives censure, it usually means they did something ___.
3.Unlike a simple complaint, censure is often ___ and public.
4.The manager was ___ by the board for poor decisions.
5.People feel ___ when they are officially censured in front of others.
6.Censure is stronger than criticism because it often comes with ___ consequences.
7.When someone is censured, it means their actions were ___ unacceptable.