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, 20% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.

3

: count, tally

a census of deer in a game refuge

census transitive verb

Synonyms of census

• count
• 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

The share of adults ages 25-34 who were homeowners (heads of household or their spouses) dwindled from 40% in 2005 to 29% in 2024, according to research by the Urban Institute, based on census data. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 3 July 2026

The commission said each state may nominate up to 25% of its eligible low-income census tracts to become zones, meaning that applications will top out with 78 zones to be designated by the governor. — Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2026

Some people don’t answer the census questions about their origins at all. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026

And the census is still trying to figure out how to ask questions to sort out race, ethnicity and origins. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

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

circa 1628, 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)