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, 16% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.

3

: count, tally

a census of deer in a game refuge

census transitive verb

Synonyms

• 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

Official 2030 census numbers are set to be used to determine each state's share of congressional seats and Electoral College votes in the next decade. —Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 6 Oct. 2025

As of last year, that town’s population had hit more than 67,000 people, according to census data. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025

Jews make up a small minority of the UK population, with just under 300,000 people living in England and Wales identifying as Jewish during the most recent census in 2021. —Peter Wilkinson, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025

Watertown has about 1,550 permanent residents, according to recent census figures, but the town is engulfed by thousands of people twice a year for the city’s Mile Long Yard Sale. —Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 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

1634, 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)