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

Usually states redistrict early in the decade after the census count. —Larry Kaplow, NPR, 14 Sep. 2025

And although census data estimates that population has increased in Miami-Dade between 2020 and 2024, there have also been people leaving the county in large numbers. —Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025

Such plans are typically launched at the beginning of each decade, as every 10 years, states redraw the boundaries of their congressional districts to reflect new population counts from the census. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

They were ordered by the govt to go to Bethlehem to register for the census. —John Fugelsang september 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 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)