canvass
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
-
to examine carefully; investigate by inquiry; discuss; debate.
- Synonyms:
- explore, scrutinize, analyze
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a soliciting of votes, orders, or the like.
-
a campaign for election to government office.
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close inspection; scrutiny.
the official canvass of election results.
verb
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to solicit votes, orders, advertising, etc, from
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to determine the feelings and opinions of (voters before an election, etc), esp by conducting a survey
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to investigate (something) thoroughly, esp by discussion or debate
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to inspect (votes) officially to determine their validity
noun
-
a solicitation of opinions, votes, sales orders, etc
-
close inspection; scrutiny
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing canvass
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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Grade 12, List 6
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March: Book Three
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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.
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
“Doctors have come out to canvass, and do door knocks with my campaign, because they know that I will support them because this affects the doctor's ability to do good health care.”
From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024
Geyer began the same methodical canvass he had conducted in Cincinnati.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
