decennial

adjective

de·​cen·​ni·​al di-ˈse-nē-əl How to pronounce decennial (audio)
1
: consisting of or lasting for 10 years
2
: occurring or being done every 10 years
the decennial census
decennial noun
decennially adverb

Examples of decennial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Census Bureau recently announced that 3.5 million people listed a MENA origin in the 2020 decennial census, but the numbers included only those who first identified as white. Denise Lu, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 His tax proposal is just one of many that have been presented to the Tax Revision Commission during this decennial reconsideration. Courtland Milloy, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2023 The data in the report was collected from Census Bureau data, including the 2000 decennial census and 2021 American Community Survey. Kaitlyn Schwanemann, CNN, 6 Oct. 2023 Bradfield Farms demographic data is from the 2020 decennial census for the census block group that contains the neighborhood. Ella Koeze, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2023 States must redraw their state legislative and congressional district lines every 10 years to reflect population shifts revealed in the decennial census. Sabrina Eaton, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2023 Yang and others also argue that similar data is already being captured at the federal level by the decennial Census. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023 Most states are guided by at least four traditional principles for reshaping state legislative districts after each decennial census. David A. Lieb and Scott Bauer, Journal Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2023 In addition to affecting political representation, decennial census data helps determine the allocation of federal funding for the next decade as well as where services like schools, hospitals and highways are needed. Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decennial was circa 1656

Dictionary Entries Near decennial

Cite this Entry

“Decennial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decennial. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decennial

adjective
de·​cen·​ni·​al di-ˈsen-ē-əl How to pronounce decennial (audio)
1
: consisting of 10 years
2
: happening every 10 years
decennial census
decennially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on decennial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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