Censure publicly is a term that means to DENOUNCE or criticize someone in a public setting. It is usually done in order to reprimand someone for their actions or to make an example of them. This term is often used in politics, where a leader may publicly censure another leader in order to send a message to the public. It can also be used in other settings, such as in the workplace, where an employer may publicly censure an employee for their behavior.