In
statistics,
engineering,
economics, and
medical research,
censoring is a condition in which the
value of a
measurement or
observation is only partially known. For example, suppose a study is conducted to measure the impact of a drug on
mortality rate. In such a study, it may be known that an individual's age at death is
at least 75 years (but may be more). Such a situation could occur if the individual withdrew from the study at age 75, or if the individual is currently alive at the age of 75.