census

noun

cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs How to pronounce census (audio)
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

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 Georgia’s shift from red to purple is widely credited to diversification in the Atlanta metro area, where the population grew by 15% between 2010 and 2020, while the white population shrank by 2%, according to the most recent census data. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 While Black women and girls make up about 7% of the U.S. population, according to census data. David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Oct. 2024 Only 38% of U.S. adults over 25 hold a bachelor's degree, according to the latest census data. Maxwell Millington, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024 Five areas within census tracts — one in Pacific Palisades, one in Los Feliz, two in Brentwood and one in Shadow Hills — contain 18% of the city’s total tree canopy coverage, but less than 1% of residents live in these areas, according to a 2019 assessment. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for census 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'census.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of census was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near census

Cite this Entry

“Census.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/census. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

census

noun
cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs How to pronounce census (audio)
: 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on census

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