census
noun
cen·sus
ˈsen(t)-səs 
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.
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
According to census data, California’s median household income rose from $71,805 in 2017 to $91,551 in 2022 — about a 27.5% increase.
—
Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Only 2,857 people are registered to vote in a district with more than 16,600 residents and largely populated by university students, according to the registrar of voters and 2020 census data.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
The caste census is a hot-button issue which critics deem discriminatory, but proponents argue would help address current-day caste disparities.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2024
In Southern California, Rancho Palos Verdes has been working to manage its peafowl population since 2015 through census reporting, trapping and relocation in six neighborhoods.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 14 Apr. 2024
Last year the median new-home size fell to its lowest point in more than a decade, census data shows.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Alexia Palomino-Cortez, a graduate student in Los Angeles, welcomes the census changes.
—Raul A. Reyes, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Rents rose at similar rates in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas, census data shows, though rents in the suburbs around the District were higher to begin with.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
During the first two months of this year, builders in California pulled 35% more permits for single-family homes than during the same period a year earlier, according to census data.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Only 2,857 people are registered to vote in a district with more than 16,600 residents and largely populated by university students, according to the registrar of voters and 2020 census data.
—Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024
The caste census is a hot-button issue which critics deem discriminatory, but proponents argue would help address current-day caste disparities.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2024
In Southern California, Rancho Palos Verdes has been working to manage its peafowl population since 2015 through census reporting, trapping and relocation in six neighborhoods.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 14 Apr. 2024
Last year the median new-home size fell to its lowest point in more than a decade, census data shows.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
Alexia Palomino-Cortez, a graduate student in Los Angeles, welcomes the census changes.
—Raul A. Reyes, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Rents rose at similar rates in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas, census data shows, though rents in the suburbs around the District were higher to begin with.
—Emily Guskin, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
During the first two months of this year, builders in California pulled 35% more permits for single-family homes than during the same period a year earlier, according to census data.
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near census
Cite this Entry
“Census.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/census. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
census
noun
cen·sus
ˈsen(t)-səs
: 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
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