census

noun

cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs 

1

: a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome

2

: a usually complete enumeration of a population

specifically : a periodic governmental enumeration of population

According to the latest U.S census, 16% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.

3

: count, tally

a census of deer in a game refuge

census transitive verb

Synonyms

• count
• tale
• tally

Examples of census in a Sentence

According to the latest census, the racial makeup of the town has changed dramatically in the last 50 years.

a thorough census of all the grizzly bears living within the national park

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2013, the census reported at least 250,000 Latin Americans living in the U.K. —Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025

Recent census data shows that America's population is growing, and New York was the state with the largest numeric gains from 2023 to 2024 after a long-standing trend of residents leaving the Empire State. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025

But according to the new census estimates, the metro area drew 23,395 international migrants last year, accounting for about 77% of our growth. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 18 Mar. 2025

The immigrant population Previously released census data showed that about 190,648 people in Mecklenburg County are foreign-born. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cēnsus, from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, assess, appraise, perform the duties of a censor" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at censor entry 1

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing census

• census clause

Rhymes for census

• amanuensis
• melitensis
• consensus

Kids Definition

census

noun

cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs 

: a counting of the population (as of a country, city, or town) and a gathering of related statistics done by a government every so often

Legal Definition

census

noun

cen·​sus

: a usually complete count of a population (as of a state)

especially : a periodic governmental count of a population that usually includes social and economic information (as occupations, ages, and incomes)