canvass

American  

[kan-vuhs] / ˈkæn vəs /

verb (used with object)

canvasses, present (3rd person singular) canvassed, past participle, past canvassing present participle

1. to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.

2. to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.

   Synonyms:

   explore, scrutinize, analyze

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verb (used without object)

canvasses, present (3rd person singular) canvassed, past participle, past canvassing present participle

1. to solicit votes, opinions, or the like.

noun

1. a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.

2. a campaign for election to government office.

3. close inspection; scrutiny.

   the official canvass of election results.

canvass British  

/ ˈkænvəs /

verb

1. to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc, from

2. to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc), esp by conducting a survey

3. to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp by discussion or debate

4. to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity

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noun

1. a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc

2. close inspection; scrutiny

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undercanvass
  verb
• well-canvassed
  adjective
• canvasser
  noun
• canvassing
  noun
• precanvass
  verb (used with object)
• uncanvassed
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have canvassed
  perfect
• has canvassed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am canvassing
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been canvassing
  perfect progressive
• is canvassing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are canvassing
  progressive
• has been canvassing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• canvasses
  singular 3rd person
• canvassing
  participle

Past

• had canvassed
  perfect
• had been canvassing
  perfect progressive
• was canvassing
  progressive singular
• were canvassing
  progressive plural
• canvassed
  simple
• canvassed
  participle

Future

• will canvass
  simple
• will have canvassed
  perfect
• will have been canvassing
  perfect progressive
• will be canvassing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of canvass

First recorded in 1500–10; originally a spelling variant of canvas, as a verb; the sense “discuss” apparently a development of the earlier senses “toss in a canvas sheet,” and “harshly criticize”; the sense “solicit votes” is obscurely derived

Explanation

A canvass is a poll, usually a political one. Around elections, political parties often canvass particular neighborhoods, looking for votes and trying to measure the pulse of the people. You might think of canvass as the heavy cotton cloth that is pronounced the same although spelled with only one s, that is, canvas. Canvas is used to cover things, and a canvass serves the same sort of purpose. Before elections, politicians want to cover their neighborhoods and districts with canvasses, campaign workers, flyers and the like in hopes of securing votes.

Example Sentences

“When I canvass for Chuck, sometimes I ask people, ‘What do you actually think about the state of the Democratic Party?’

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

Police could canvass neighborhoods, interview witnesses, check traffic cameras, maybe pull hotel records or receipts.

From Slate • May 20, 2026

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's wardrobe is more than a statement of style; it has become known as a canvass for her political message of advancing women's and Indigenous rights.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

“I canvass 80% of the time in Spanish,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2024

He and Schnooks thanked the clerk for his kind attention, then set out to canvass more hotels.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• agitate
• consult
• inspect
• scrutinize
• solicit