census
Americannoun
-
an official enumeration of the population, with details as to age, sex or gender, occupation, etc.
-
(in ancient Rome) the registration of citizens and their property, for purposes of taxation.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
an official periodic count of a population including such information as sex, age, occupation, etc
-
any offical count
a traffic census
-
(in ancient Rome) a registration of the population and a property evaluation for purposes of taxation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of census
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin: “a listing and property assessment of citizens,” equivalent to cēns(ēre) “to assess, register (citizens) in a census” + -tus suffix of verb action; for -s- in place of -st- see censor
Explanation
If you live in the U.S., every ten years you'll participate in a census, a process for counting people. The information collected is used to plan for schools, transportation, social services people will need, and also for determining congressional districts. On the census form you’ll be asked how many people live in your house, their ages, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. With this, the government can plan facilities and also track population trends — whether cities are growing or shrinking, what ethnic groups make up our population, and where they live. We get the word and the idea from the Romans, who registered citizens and their property so they could be taxed. The first U.S. census was held in 1790.
Vocabulary lists containing census
Electoral Elocution: The Verbiage of Voting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Constitution of the United States
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Human Geography - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The census, which was carried out over a week in September 2025, uncovered the women by working with all 33 London councils and 68 others across England, amounting to a third of all local authorities.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
The quarterly census of employment and wages administrative records released this past week differed little from the nonfarm payroll data covering the same period.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
There are 18,552 people in the Highland Council area with Gaelic skills, according to the latest census data.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Both also have turned net migration losses to other states into net gains, according to recent census estimates.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
The emperor sent curacas, special men to take a census of the number of births and deaths and marriages that had taken place during the year.
From "The Ugly One" by Leanne Statland Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
