census
Americannoun
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an official enumeration of the population, with details as to age, sex or gender, occupation, etc.
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(in ancient Rome) the registration of citizens and their property, for purposes of taxation.
verb (used with object)
noun
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an official periodic count of a population including such information as sex, age, occupation, etc
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any offical count
a traffic census
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(in ancient Rome) a registration of the population and a property evaluation for purposes of taxation
Other Word 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
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The Constitution of the United States
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Human Geography - Middle School
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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.
She said the DoH statistics were based on the annual school census and linked data, so may not reflect all autistic children.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
Typically, states create new congressional maps every 10 years, in line with the national decennial census.
From Slate • May 14, 2026
California is home to more than 1.8 million former service members, which is the largest veteran population of any state in the nation, according to the most recent census.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
There will be reapportionment after the 2030 census to reallocate states based on population.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
The 2000 census counted 186,872 Mexicans in New York, triple the 1990 figure, and there are undoubtedly many more today.
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
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.
