self-censorship

[/ˌself ˈsen.sər.ʃɪp/]
nounpl: self-censorships
autocensura
1. The suppression or inhibition of one's own speech, writing, or creative expression, often due to fear of consequences, social pressure, or internal moral judgment
The journalist practiced self-censorship to avoid angering the government.
O jornalista praticava autocensura para evitar irritar o governo.
2. The act of voluntarily refraining from expressing thoughts or opinions that one believes might be controversial, offensive, or unpopular
Self-censorship in social media has become increasingly common among young people.
A autocensura em redes sociais tornou-se cada vez mais comum entre jovens.
3. Voluntary restraint of one's own creative or artistic output without external pressure or legal requirement
Artists sometimes engage in self-censorship when creating work for conservative audiences.
Artistas às vezes praticam autocensura ao criar obras para públicos conservadores.
Self-censorship has become a significant topic of discussion in both American and Brazilian societies, particularly in digital age contexts. In Brazil, the term gained prominence during discussions of freedom of expression in media and academia. In the USA, it's frequently discussed in relation to political correctness, social media algorithms, and workplace environments. The concept reflects broader tensions between individual liberty and social responsibility in contemporary discourse.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
self-suppressionvoluntary censorshipself-restraintinternal censorship
Antonyms / Antônimos
freedom of expressionfree speechuninhibited expression

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
autocensura
Most common and standard term used in Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
autocensura
Standard usage; no regional variation
São Paulo
autocensura
Standard usage in media and academic contexts
Portugal
autocensura
Identical term used in European Portuguese

Related Words

censorshipfreedom of speechpolitical correctnesssuppressionrepressionconstraintinhibition

Related Idioms & Phrases

bite one's tongue
hold one's horses
keep one's mouth shut
engolir sapo (swallow a toad) - Portuguese equivalent for suppressing one's true opinion
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