Word of the Day: Bowdlerize — Meaning, origin and how to use it

The English language is packed with words that have unusual origins, and bowdlerize is one of the most interesting among them. Although it is not commonly used in everyday conversation, the word often appears in discussions about books, films, television, and censorship.

If you've ever come across a version of a novel, movie, or speech that has been edited to remove content considered offensive or controversial, then you've already seen the meaning of bowdlerize in action.

Today's Word of the Day: Bowdlerize

Bowdlerize means to remove, alter or censor parts of a book, film, speech or other work that are considered offensive, inappropriate or controversial, especially to make it suitable for children or a wider audience.


Unlike simple editing, bowdlerizing involves changing the original content by omitting or modifying words, scenes or ideas that some people might find objectionable.

Origin of Bowdlerize

The word is named after Dr. Thomas Bowdler, an English physician who published The Family Shakespeare in 1807. Bowdler and his sister Henrietta Maria Bowdler produced editions of William Shakespeare's plays with passages they considered unsuitable for women and children removed or rewritten.

Although Bowdler intended to make Shakespeare more accessible to families, his name eventually became a verb associated with censorship or excessive sanitisation of original works.

Meaning of Bowdlerize

Bowdlerize (verb)
Pronunciation: BOHD-luh-rise
Meaning: To censor or edit a book, film, speech or other work by removing material regarded as offensive or inappropriate.

Example sentences

The publisher was accused of bowdlerizing the classic novel before releasing it for schools.
Several scenes were bowdlerized to secure a lower age rating for the film.
Historians argue that important documents should never be bowdlerized, even if some passages are uncomfortable to read.

Synonyms

* Censor
* Edit
* Expurgate
* Sanitize
* Redact

Why is Bowdlerize unique?

Unlike words such as edit or revise, bowdlerize specifically refers to changing a work by removing material that may offend readers or viewers. Because of this, the word often carries a negative tone, suggesting that the original work has been unnecessarily diluted or altered.

Today, the term is frequently used in debates over censorship, book bans, streaming edits, school curricula, and the balance between preserving artistic integrity and making content suitable for different audiences.

Did you know?
The word bowdlerize has been part of the English language for more than 200 years. While Dr. Thomas Bowdler believed he was making Shakespeare more family-friendly, his surname eventually became synonymous with censorship. Today, the term is used far beyond literature and can apply to movies, television shows, speeches, songs, historical documents and even digital content that has been edited to remove controversial material.