Definition of: censor

(sen′sər) noun
1. An official examiner of manuscripts and plays empowered to prohibit their publication or performance if offensive to the government or subversive of good morals.
2. An official who examines despatches, letters, etc., and, if necessary, prohibits forwarding or publication, especially in time of war.
3. Anyone who censures or arraigns; a critic.
4. In ancient Rome, one of two magistrates who kept the public register of citizens and of their property, and were entrusted with the supervision of public manners and morals.
5. Psychoanal. The subconscious mental force that disguises painful or unwanted memories and complexes or prevents them from rising to conscious recognition.
—v.t To act as censor of; delete. ◆ Homophone: censer. [<L <censere judge]
—cen·so·ri·al (sen·sôr′ē·əl, -sō′rē-) adjective