Censure

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛn.ʃə/

Definitions

1. A formal statement of strong disapproval or harsh criticism, especially one made publicly by an authority or official body
2. A formal expression of severe disapproval or criticism, particularly issued by an authoritative organization or individual
3. An official reprimand or condemnation that signifies a strong objection to someone's actions or conduct, often released publicly

Etymology: The Roman censors were officials who assessed citizens' wealth and standing, and their judgments carried real consequences: a person could be struck from the senate or lose their place in the social order. The Latin "censūra" named the office and its assessment, and it came from the verb "censēre," which meant to consider, value, judge, or tax. A censor's verdict was thus a weighing of a person's worth, long before it became a word for criticism. The word reached English in the late 14th century, borrowed through Old French, and for its first few centuries it carried this sense of formal judgment, including the authority to pass judgment on others. The sense of disapproval developed from that official act of assessment, so that to censure someone came to mean to pronounce a formal condemnation of their conduct.

Synonyms: condemnation, criticism, rebuke, reprimand, disapproval

Antonyms: praise, approval, commendation, endorsement, acclaim