census

American  

[sen-suhs] / ˈsɛn səs /

noun

plural

censuses

1. an official enumeration of the population, with details as to age, sex or gender, occupation, etc.

2. (in ancient Rome) the registration of citizens and their property, for purposes of taxation.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to take a census of (a country, city, etc.).

   The entire nation is censused every 10 years.

census British  

/ ˈsɛnsəs /

noun

1. an official periodic count of a population including such information as sex, age, occupation, etc

2. any offical count

   a traffic census

3. (in ancient Rome) a registration of the population and a property evaluation for purposes of taxation

---

Other Word Forms

• censual adjective
• precensus noun

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- censor

Example Sentences

India's 16th census - the eighth since independence in 1947 - will also include caste data and is seen as crucial for policy, welfare delivery and political representation in the world's most populous country.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

For economists like Ashwini Deshpande of Ashoka University, the census is essential to update the basic map of India itself - what counts as rural, urban or increasingly peri-urban.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

India's transgender population was estimated at nearly 500,000 in the 2011 census, although activists say stigma and underreporting mask the true figure.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Nine out of 10 residents say their city is unsafe, according to census data, more than in any other municipality in Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Researchers who have studied census data from 1980, 1990, and 2000 say the isolation of the affluent has increased.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• enumeration
• poll