2 syllables: cen, sor. Stress on cen.
/ˈsɛn.sɔɹ/
Say it backCensor is a verb or noun referring to suppressing or prohibiting speech or information, often by authority, to protect public morals, safety, or to remove offensive material. As a verb, it means to examine and remove or suppress unacceptable content; as a noun, it denotes a person who censors or a device that limits access. The term implies constraint of expression within legal, institutional, or organizational boundaries.
"The government decided to censor certain broadcasts during the election period."
"The film was edited to censor nudity before its release."
"A strict editor may censor passages that seem inappropriate for younger readers."
Censor is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈsɛn.sɔːr/ in US and /ˈsen.sɔː/ in UK/AU. The first syllable carries primary stress; the vowel in the first syllable is a short ’e’ as in ‘bed,’ and the second syllable features a long ’or’ (rhotic) in General American. Tip: keep a light, quick transition between syllables; avoid elongating the second vowel. If you hear ‘sensor’ used as a synonym in everyday speech, note that sensor is a different word with a similar pronunciation in some accents: /ˈsɛn.sɔː/.
Common errors include substituting a hard ’z’ or ’d’ in the second syllable (/ˈsɛnzɔːr/), or merging the two syllables too closely as /ˈsɛn.sɔr/ without the clear second-syllable separation. Another pitfall is misplacing the /ɔː/ to sound like /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ in some accents. To correct: keep /ˈsɛn/ as a crisp syllable and open the second syllable with a clear /ɔː/ before the final rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents. Practice with minimal pairs and slow drills to cement the two-syllable boundary.
In General American and many UK varieties, you have two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈsɛn.sɔːr/ (US) and /ˈsen.sɔː/ (UK). In rhotic varieties, the final /r/ is pronounced; in non-rhotic accents (some UK contexts), the final /r/ may be less pronounced or non-rhotic in careful speech. Australian English typically features /ˈsen.sɔː/ with a strong final /r/ in linked speech. The key differences are the rhoticity of the final /r/ and subtle vowel quality shifts in /ɛ/ vs /e/ and /ɔː/ realization across regions.
The difficulty arises from the two-syllable structure with the central vowel contrast: the /ɛ/ in the first syllable and the rounded /ɔː/ in the second, plus the trailing /r/. English speakers may also merge or mis-timing the /s/ and /n/ cluster, or slip into a single-syllable pronunciation for rapid speech. Focus on maintaining a crisp /ˈsɛn/ first syllable, a distinct /sɔː/ second vowel, and a pronounced /r/ in rhotic dialects. IPA reminders help anchor mouth positions across contexts.
A distinctive feature is the strong, clear syllable boundary between /ˈsɛn/ and /sɔːr/ and the presence of the /ɔː/ nucleus in the second syllable. Some learners may attempt to reduce /ˈsɛn/ to /ˈsɛn/ and skip the second syllable. Listen for the slight delay before the second syllable and keep your tongue high for the /ɔː/ and back for the rounded vowel, followed by rhotic /r/ in American and some UK accents. This separation helps prevent mispronunciations like /ˈsensɔ/ or /ˈsɛnzɔːr/.”]},
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Censor comes from Late Latin censor, from censēre ‘to tax, assess, rate, think,’ which in ancient Rome referred to the public official responsible for assessing property and census data. The Latin censōrēs formed from cens- ‘assess’ with the agentive -or. The sense shift toward controlling speech arises in later Latin and medieval usage as authorities began to regulate speech and moral conduct. In English, censor attested in the 16th century with the legal sense of official who reviews and controls printed matter. The noun sense of a magistrate who exercises censorship is paired with the verb censor, meaning to examine and suppress material. By the 19th and 20th centuries, technological and media innovations amplified censorship dynamics, as governments, broadcasters, and publishers implemented guidelines, often balancing concerns about morality, safety, or national security with freedom of expression. In modern usage, censor frequently collocates with media platforms, content, and moderation practices, across political, cultural, and corporate contexts, while also existing in everyday talk about editors who remove material deemed inappropriate.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "censor" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "censor"
-sor sounds
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