canvass

¹can·vass

verb \ˈkan-vəs\

can·vassedcan·vas·sing

Definition of CANVASS

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to toss in a canvas sheet in sport or punishment

2

a : to examine in detail; specifically : to examine (votes) officially for authenticity b : discuss, debate

3

: to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments <canvass voters>

intransitive verb

: to seek orders or votes : solicit

— can·vass·er also can·vas·er noun

Variants of CANVASS

can·vass also can·vas \ˈkan-vəs\

Examples of CANVASS

1. A team of volunteers is canvassing the city for the Republican Party.
2. We go to every house to canvass voters.
3. She is canvassing for one of the presidential candidates this year.
4. The group has been canvassing neighborhoods to ask people to vote for him.
5. The company canvassed several sites for a new factory.

First Known Use of CANVASS

1508

Related to CANVASS

Synonyms: interview, poll, solicit, survey

Related Words: circularize; interrogate, question; feel (out), sound (out)

Near Antonyms: report

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism