censorship

plural censorships

1. countableuncountableThe use of state or group power to control freedom of expression or press, such as passing laws to prevent undesirable media from being published or propagated.

   […] such a curious thing — it is the only thing left of the old censorship of the press."

   1899, Arthur Christopher Benson, The life of Edward White Benson, sometime Archbishop of Canterbury: Volume 1

   2 more examples

   During the war, but unrecorded because of the requirements of censorship, a link with the now partly-abandoned Cardiff Railway disappeared with the demolition of Rhydyfelin Viaduct, near Treforest, South Wales, in the latter part of 1942. The steelwork in this structure, amounting to nearly 1,150 tons, was salvaged as scrap metal to assist the war effort.

   1946 January and February, “Notes and News: Demolition of Rhydyfelin Viaduct”, in Railway Magazine, page 52

   The Infantes had contacts among left-wing groups that opposed the dictatorial regime in Spain and their visibility in these circles was a serious concern for the censorship authorities […]

   2012, Alejandro Herrero-Olaizola, Censorship Files, The: Latin American Writers and Franco's Spain

2. countablehistoricaluncountableThe role of the censor (magistrate) in Ancient Rome.