Census
/ˈsɛnsəs/
Definitions
An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details such as age, sex, occupation, etc.
/ˈsɛnsəs/
An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details.
The latest census showed a rise in the number of elderly people.
💡 Simply: Imagine counting all the people in your town to see how many live there and what they do. That's like a census! It helps to plan things like building more schools or roads.
👶 For kids: Counting all the people in a place!
More Examples
Participating in the census is important for accurate government planning.
How It's Used
"The government conducts a national census every ten years."
"The census data revealed a significant increase in the urban population."
From Latin *census ('assessment, registration'), from *censēre ('to assess, estimate'). The word's evolution reflects its core meaning: the counting and evaluation of a population.
The Roman Empire utilized censuses for taxation and military conscription. The practice evolved and spread throughout the world.
Memory tip
Think 'sense' – the census takes stock of the population.
Word Origin
"to assess, estimate"