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Bowdlerism

Bowdlerism

9.9
Removing parts of a book or film that people find offensive
  • noun
  • /ˈbaʊdlərˌɪzəm/
  • Literature
translation icon : bowdlerismo
  • The film’s televised version suffered significant Bowdlerism, cutting several scenes deemed inappropriate for children.

Examples

  • Many classic novels were subjected to Bowdlerism during the Victorian era, altering or removing controversial passages.

  • The Bowdlerism of classic literature can change its original meaning.

  • Critics argue that Bowdlerism diminishes the power and intent of literary works.

  • Many argue that Bowdlerism is detrimental to artistic expression.

  • Many classics of literature have undergone Bowdlerism to make them more acceptable for young readers.

  • The school's Bowdlerism of the novel angered several parents who felt it changed the original message.

  • During the editing process, the publisher's Bowdlerism removed scenes that some found inappropriate.

Synonyms

censorship
vsBowdlerism
119 4.8

A system that removes parts of books, films or news that people find harmful

is a specific, prudish kind of that broader suppressive system
censoring
vsBowdlerism
3 6.9

Stopping parts of speech or writing that people find offensive

targets indecent or offensive content specifically, often from a prudish viewpoint
bowdlerization
vsBowdlerism
  • Literature
1 9.9

Removing or changing parts of a text that people find offensive to make it acceptable for more readers

is driven by prudish censorship rather than neutral textual editing
castration
vsBowdlerism
1 8.9

Removing parts of a book or play to make it less offensive

also alters material as well as deleting, usually for prudish reasons
Comstockery
vsBowdlerism
  • US
9.9

Banning books and art because people think they are immoral or offensive

is a prudish form of that moral censorship focused on indecency

Surface Forms

Bowdlerism singular
Bowdlerisms plural

Morphology

Bowdlerism = Bowdler (opaque) = Bowdler + ism

The term is an eponym formed from the proper name 'Bowdler' plus '-ism'; knowing the name does not help an average learner infer the meaning.

Etymology

Bowdlerism comes from the name of Thomas Bowdler, who in the 1800s published editions of plays and books with sexual or rude parts cut or changed so families could read them. That habit of 'cleaning up' texts gave the word its meaning: Bowdlerism is the practice of removing or altering material to make it 'clean' or less offensive.