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

Indian immigrants and Indian Americans are among the highest-earning ethnic groups in the US, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 16 Nov. 2025

Trump has been waging the redistricting campaign in an effort to shore up the Republican majority in Congress ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, despite the tradition of redistricting directly after a decennial census. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 14 Nov. 2025

However, the dataset reports less than half of census tracts in Philadelphia because the FHFA often suppresses data due to privacy concerns. —Gregory Squires, The Conversation, 13 Nov. 2025

According to research from the Natural Resources Defense Council based on census data, 35% of Californians over 16 either do not have reliable access to a car for daily transportation or can’t drive due to a disability. —Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 13 Nov. 2025

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)