Bowdlerism

/ˈbaʊdlərɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The practice or principle of removing words or passages considered offensive, indecent, or objectionable from texts, named after Thomas Bowdler.

Etymology

From Thomas Bowdler plus the suffix '-ism' (denoting a practice or principle), creating a noun that captures both the person and the practice of over-censoring literature.

Kelly Says

Bowdlerism is a perfect example of how language can preserve criticism through a person's name—to call something 'Bowdlerism' is to immediately label it as misguided censorship, which is ironic since Bowdler thought he was improving literature.

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