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

Now Governor [Greg] Abbott of Texas has already agreed to change boundaries in Texas, even without a census. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026

About 67,000 people relocated to Texas from other states in the year ending in June, census data shows. —William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026

The suit claims that the statistical methods used to calculate the census undercounted the state's population, costing the state two seats in Congress. —Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026

The growth differential between red and blue states will likely bite the latter after the 2030 census, when the nation’s 435 congressional seats are divvied up. —Dan Walters, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 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)