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

Jewish leaders condemn the attack, antisemitism Australia's Jewish community was estimated at nearly 117,000 people in 2021, during the nation's last census. —Michael Collins, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025

District boundaries are usually adjusted once a decade after a new census. —Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025

New congressional maps are typically redrawn every 10 years after new census data on population is released, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. —Tevon Blair, Essence, 12 Dec. 2025

The maps that create each state's congressional districts are typically only drawn once every 10 years by state legislators after a census. —Garrett Downs, CNBC, 11 Dec. 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)