censure
UK: ˈsɛnʃə | US: ˈsɛnʃər
n. strong criticism or disapproval, especially from a position of authority
vt. to express severe disapproval of someone or something, typically in a formal statement
censure = cens<judge> + ure<noun suffix>
- cens (from Latin censēre, meaning "to assess, judge, or tax")
- ure (a noun-forming suffix indicating action or result, from Latin -ura)
Etymology Origin:
The word "censure" traces back to Latin censēre, which originally referred to the duties of Roman censors—officials who assessed citizens' conduct and property. Over time, it evolved to mean "to judge critically" or "to blame." The suffix -ure solidified its role as a noun denoting the act or result of judgment. The modern sense of formal disapproval retains this authoritative connotation.
The senator faced severe censure from his colleagues for unethical behavior.
The editorial was a harsh censure of the government's policies.
Teachers should avoid publicly censuring students to protect their self-esteem.
The committee voted to censure the CEO for financial misconduct.
His speech drew both praise and censure from different political groups.