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

Redistricting is usually done every 10 years, after the decennial census, but Ohio faces the task now because voters in 2018 amended the state constitution, and maps are only in effect for four years if they are passed without minority support. —David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025

That same census states that out of the 108.67 million household population in the Philippines, 230,917 people have foreign ethnicities. —Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025

The 2030 census results are set to be used to redraw voting maps for every level of government and redistribute each state's share of congressional seats, Electoral College votes and federal funding for public services in the next decade. —Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 23 May 2025

While redistricting is generally done every 10 years following the release of census data, the commissioner court’s three Republicans say new precinct maps are necessary after Tarrant County has seen rapid growth in recent years. —Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 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)