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
• tale
• 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

Georgia’s shift from red to purple is widely credited to diversification in the Atlanta metro area, where the population grew by 15% between 2010 and 2020, while the white population shrank by 2%, according to the most recent census data. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

While Black women and girls make up about 7% of the U.S. population, according to census data. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Oct. 2024

Only 38% of U.S. adults over 25 hold a bachelor's degree, according to the latest census data. —Maxwell Millington, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

Five areas within census tracts — one in Pacific Palisades, one in Los Feliz, two in Brentwood and one in Shadow Hills — contain 18% of the city’s total tree canopy coverage, but less than 1% of residents live in these areas, according to a 2019 assessment. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024

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

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)