censured

Censured is the past tense and past participle of censure. In general use, to be censured means to receive formal disapproval or condemnation from an authority. A censure is an official rebuke that typically does not carry criminal penalties, but it can carry significant reputational damage and procedural consequences. Censures are common in government, legal, and organizational contexts, issued by legislatures, courts, professional bodies, or corporate boards.

A censure serves to document disapproved conduct and to deter similar behavior in the future. It is often one step short of more severe sanctions, such as removal from a position, but it can accompany additional requirements, such as training or corrective measures. In practice, a censured individual or action has been found to violate standards or rules, prompting formal disapproval rather than legal punishment.

The term is sometimes confused with censorship, which means the suppression or restriction of information or expression. Etymologically, censure derives from Latin censura, via Old French censure, and denotes judgment or assessment. The noun form can appear as “censure” or “a censure,” while the verb forms include “censure” and “censured.” Example: The council censured the official for conflict of interest.