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

In response, some advocates have called for the government to support the industry — which accounted for around 1% of the US workforce in the latest census — with hundreds of thousands losing their jobs in recent years. —Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025

About 3% of its residents are of Arab or Middle Eastern descent, according to 2020 census data. —Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 8 Nov. 2025

According to 2010 census data, 410,000 native Brazilians live in indigenous lands, while about 500,000 live in cities and areas outside of reservations. —Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

The general practice is to redistrict after the decennial census. —Debra J. Saunders, Oc Register, 7 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)