census

noun

cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs How to pronounce census (audio)
1
: a count of the population and a property evaluation in early Rome
2
: a usually complete enumeration of a population
specifically : a periodic governmental enumeration of population
According to the latest U.S census, 16% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.
3
: count, tally
a census of deer in a game refuge
census transitive verb

Examples of census in a Sentence

According to the latest census, the racial makeup of the town has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. a thorough census of all the grizzly bears living within the national park
Recent Examples on the Web Last year the median new-home size fell to its lowest point in more than a decade, census data shows. Alena Botros, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Black residents make up about 40 percent of Salisbury’s population, and White residents make up about 46 percent, according to U.S. census data. Joe Heim, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Hamtramck has the second highest percentage of Arab Americans after Dearborn among Michigan cities, and the highest percentage of Bangladeshi Americans, according to census data. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 Georgetown, Texas For the second year in a row, census data has shown that Georgetown is America’s fastest growing city when measured by percent change. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 With changes to California’s district maps following the 2020 census, District 16 is an engine of accomplishment and challenge from metropolitan San José to high-tech in Santa Clara County. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 The town, which had a population of just over 5,600 during the last census, is in Polk County about 100 miles east of the Louisiana state line. USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 About 80% of the city, nearly 1,300 people, are Black, census data shows. USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 The 57th District’s Black population has dropped by nearly half in the last 30 years, while the Latino population increased by 50%, according to a Times analysis of census data. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'census.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin cēnsus, from cēnsēre "to give as an opinion, assess, appraise, perform the duties of a censor" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at censor entry 1

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of census was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near census

Cite this Entry

“Census.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/census. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

census

noun
cen·​sus ˈsen(t)-səs How to pronounce census (audio)
: a counting of the population (as of a country, city, or town) and a gathering of related statistics done by a government every so often

Legal Definition

census

noun
cen·​sus
: a usually complete count of a population (as of a state)
especially : a periodic governmental count of a population that usually includes social and economic information (as occupations, ages, and incomes)

More from Merriam-Webster on census

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