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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 The measure in Rhode Island follows a 32% increase in the Asian American population in the state over the last decade, according to the 2020 census. 
Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 According to the census, Black people make up 62.4% of Baltimore’s population. Billy Jean Louis, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2022 Christianity is the third most popular religion in Singapore after Buddhism and Taoism, covering nearly one in five Singaporeans according to the 2020 census. Heather Chen, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Susanville’s population — about 16,000 last year, according to the census — has long included thousands of inmates at both facilities, a boost that makes the town seem bigger and more attractive to incoming businesses. Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 The 2020 census listed its population about about 115,000. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The seat Cheney is vying for was held by Antonio Delgado, now New York's lieutenant governor, and the district lines were redrawn following the 2020 census. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2022 The 2020 census missed about 3% of the Black population. Michael Macagnone, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2022 Black, while 39% of California’s population was Hispanic and 5.7% Black, according to the 2020 census. Melissa Korn, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Tat Bellamy-walker, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 According to the census, Black people make up 62.4% of Baltimore’s population. Billy Jean Louis, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2022 Christianity is the third most popular religion in Singapore after Buddhism and Taoism, covering nearly one in five Singaporeans according to the 2020 census. Heather Chen, CNN, 27 Aug. 2022 Susanville’s population — about 16,000 last year, according to the census — has long included thousands of inmates at both facilities, a boost that makes the town seem bigger and more attractive to incoming businesses. Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 The 2020 census listed its population about about 115,000. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2022 The seat Cheney is vying for was held by Antonio Delgado, now New York's lieutenant governor, and the district lines were redrawn following the 2020 census. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2022 The 2020 census missed about 3% of the Black population. Michael Macagnone, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Aug. 2022 Black, while 39% of California’s population was Hispanic and 5.7% Black, according to the 2020 census. Melissa Korn, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
census
noun
cen·sus ˈsen-səs
: a count of the number of people in a country, city, or town
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)
census
noun
as in count
a total number obtained or recorded by noting each thing as it was being added a thorough census of all the grizzly bears living within the national park Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- count
- tally
- score
- total
- whole
- amount
- tale
- recount
- gross
- sum