canvass

1 of 2

verb

can·​vass ˈkan-vəs 

variants or less commonly canvas

canvassed; canvassing

transitive verb

1

: 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

canvassed the neighborhood to solicit magazine subscriptions

2

a

: to examine in detail

specifically : to examine (votes) officially for authenticity

b

: discuss, debate

canvassed all the items on the agenda

3

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

intransitive verb

: to seek orders or votes : solicit

was canvassing for a seat in Congress

canvasser noun

or less commonly canvaser

canvass

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly canvas

: the act or an instance of canvassing

especially : a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion

a house-to-house canvass to ascertain the vote before the election

Synonyms of canvass

Verb

• survey
• interview

Examples of canvass in a Sentence

Verb

A team of volunteers is canvassing the city for the Republican Party.

We go to every house to canvass voters.

She is canvassing for one of the presidential candidates this year.

The group has been canvassing neighborhoods to ask people to vote for him.

The company canvassed several sites for a new factory.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Dozens of volunteers canvassed throughout Oakland County as part of the annual Point In Time count to offer transportation, emergency shelter, care packages and immediate support for anyone found outdoors. —Heath Kalb, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji canvassing for the reëlection of State Assembly member Sarahana Shreshta in the Hudson Valley, June, 2024. —Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026

Noun

These preliminary results, known as a semifinal official canvass, are updated until the vote is completed by each county. —Updated January 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Jan. 2026

As directed by Colorado law, a county canvass board comprising of a delegate of the county Republican party, a delegate of the Democratic party, and the county clerk, meet before and after each election to test machines and certify the results. —Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

see canvas entry 1

Noun

see canvas entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for canvass

• canvas

Kids Definition

canvass

1 of 2 verb

can·​vass ˈkan-vəs 

: to go through (a district) or go to (people) to ask for votes, contributions, or orders or to determine public opinion

canvasser noun

canvass

2 of 2 noun

: an act of canvassing

Legal Definition

canvass

verb

can·​vass

variants also canvas

ˈkan-vəs 

canvassed also canvased; canvassing also canvasing

transitive verb

1

a

: to examine in detail

specifically : to examine (votes) officially for authenticity

b

: to make the subject of discussion or debate

2

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

intransitive verb

: to seek or solicit orders or votes