ENGLISH
REFERENCE

census

n.
US //ˈsɛnsəs// UK //sˈɛnsəs// cen·sus
  1. 1 population count (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    an official process of counting every person in a country and recording facts about them.

    a periodic official enumeration of a population, often including the collection of demographic data such as age, occupation, and housing.

    Example

    The government carries out a national census every ten years to plan for new schools and hospitals.

    Example

    The 2020 census revealed significant demographic shifts, with a notable increase in the urban population compared to the previous decade.

    Usage

    Often used with the verbs 'conduct', 'take', or 'carry out'.
  2. 2 historical tax (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Technical Law

    a type of tax that people had to pay to a lord in the past.

    a registration of citizens and their property for purposes of taxation; specifically, a feudal tax or tribute.

    Example

    In medieval times, the census was a tax paid by peasants to the landowner.

    Example

    The legal documents from the fourteenth century detail the various forms of census and labor services owed by the tenantry to the manor.
Origin

Borrowed from Latin cēnsus, from cēnseō. See censor.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026