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Glite Dictionary
civil censorship

civil censorship

8.1
Official checking and blocking of civilian letters and films by the military during war
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪvəl ˈsɛn.sər.ʃɪp/
  • Formal
translation icon : censura civil
  • Letters sent from occupied territories were often subject to civil censorship by the governing military authorities.

Examples

  • During wartime, civil censorship ensured that sensitive information did not reach enemy hands.

  • Many journalists opposed civil censorship in war zones.

  • The presence of civil censorship made it difficult for people to communicate freely across borders.

  • The government imposed civil censorship during the conflict.

  • During wartime, civil censorship restricted communications to prevent the enemy from gaining valuable intelligence.

  • Letters sent from conflict zones were often examined under civil censorship to ensure that sensitive information was not leaked.

  • The implementation of civil censorship created significant barriers for civilians trying to share news and personal messages.

Synonyms

censorship
vscivil censorship
119 4.8

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

is about official military examination and restriction of civilian communications in occupied areas
military censorship
vscivil censorship
1 6.1

People in the military check and stop news or messages to protect operations

focuses on examining and restricting civilian communications in areas under armed forces control

Surface Forms

civil censorship singular
civil censorships plural

Morphology

civil + censorship

The noun phrase is transparently compositional: 'civil' (relating to ordinary citizens/public affairs) + 'censorship' (restriction or examination of information) yields the meaning 'censorship applied to civilian communications or the civil sphere'. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common combination that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily understand.

Etymology

The noun civil censorship comes from the image of people in charge opening and cutting letters, newspapers, or films sent by 'ordinary people'. The word civil points to 'ordinary people' and censorship to checking and removing parts, so the phrase means 'checking and limiting what ordinary people can send or say'.