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canvass

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canvass¹

  • /ˈkænvəs/ UK
  • /ˈkænvəs/ Canada, US
  • [ˈkɛənvəs] Canada, US
  • /ˈkænvəs/ Australia
  • /ˈkɛnvəs/ New Zealand

Sounds like canvas

Where it comes from

The verb is derived from canvas (“type of coarse cloth woven from hemp”). The connection between “to toss (someone) in a (canvas) sheet; (by extension) to batter, beat, or thrash (someone or something); etc.” and “to seek the support of voters or a constituency in a forthcoming election or poll” is not entirely clear.

The noun is derived from the verb. It has been suggested that noun sense 4.2 (“rejection (at an election, of a suit, etc.)”) may refer to the canvas bag used by journeymen mechanics which they used to pack up their tools after they had completed their jobs, in which case it is not derived from the verb but directly from canvas (noun).

verb canvasses · canvassing · canvassed · canvas

  1. figuratively, transitive To thoroughly examine or investigate (something) physically or by discussion; to debate, to gather opinion, to scrutinize. And with the aunſwere here vpon eftſoones in hand they go, / The doubtfull wordes wherof they ſcan and canuas to and fro.
  2. Philippines, broadly, figuratively, transitive To scrutinize (the ballot in an election or the votes cast) and reject irregular votes; also, to challenge or dispute (an election result). The poll was cloſed when the Court thought they had the majority: But upon caſting it up it appeared they had loſt it: So they fell to canvaſs it: And they made ſuch exceptions to thoſe of the other ſide, that they diſcounted as many voices as gave them the majority.
  3. figuratively, transitive To seek or solicit donations, information, opinions, support, etc. from (people or a place) The police are canvassing the neighbourhood for information about the missing child.
  4. figuratively, specifically, transitive To seek the support of (voters or a constituency) in a forthcoming election or poll through personal solicitation or public addresses. The electoral candidate canvassed the district for votes.
  5. obsolete, transitive To toss (someone) in a (canvas) sheet for fun or as a punishment; to blanket. Thou that giu'ſt VVhores Indulgences to ſinne, / Ile canuas thee in thy broad Cardinalls Hat, / If thou proceed in this thy inſolence.
  6. broadly, obsolete, transitive To batter, beat, or thrash (someone or something). But nowe the Meſſenger that was thus ſent to the Lorde Hume [Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home], comming to him declared in what caſe hys houſe and people ſtoode, who beeing (as was ſuppoſed) not ſo farre off, but that he might heare howe luſtily the Engliſhe Canons did canuas and batter his Humiſhe Caſ
  7. broadly, obsolete, transitive To assail or attack (someone or something).
  8. broadly, obsolete, transitive To severely criticize (a person, a written work, etc.). So voluntarily, so freely, so coolly to canvass it!
  9. intransitive To debate, to discuss. I pulled down to Mr. Turnbull's, and told him my good and bad fortune. It being late, he ordered me some dinner in his study, and we sat there canvassing over the affair.
  10. intransitive To seek or solicit donations, information, opinions, support, etc.; to conduct a survey. [T]o saile surely in the deepe sea of divine Philosophie, wee ought to take wary heede to flie, more then Scylla and Charibdis, the Conversation of men, as they did not only getting themselves out of the prease of people, but setting light by, and refusing the government of common weales, and those
  11. intransitive, specifically To seek the support of voters or a constituency in a forthcoming election or poll; to campaign. [H]e endeavoured by his Agents to be choſe a Burgeſs for the Univerſity of Oxon, to ſerve in that Parliament vvhich began at VVeſtm[inster] 25 Apr. 1660, as at one or tvvo places beſides, vvhere he had canvas'd for votes; […]

noun canvasses · canvas

  1. countable A seeking or solicitation of donations, information, opinions, support, etc. It is a wonder to ſee how ſlauiſhly theſe kinde of [ambitious] men will ſubiect themſelues, vvhen they are about a canvas, to euery inferiour perſon, vvhat paines they vvill take, runne, ride, caſt, plot & countermine, proteſt & ſvveare, vow, promiſe, vvhat labours vndergoe, earely vp, dovvne late;
  2. countable, specifically A seeking or solicitation, or determination, of support or favourable votes in a forthcoming election or poll. And certainly, there is great difference, betvveen a Cunning Man, and a Wiſe Man; Not onely in Point of Honeſty, but in point of Ability. There be that can packe the Cards, and yet cannot play vvell; So there are ſome, that are good in Canuaſſes, and Factions, that are othervviſe VVeake Men.
  3. US, countable A scrutiny of the votes cast in an election to reject irregular votes; also, a tally, audit, and certification of votes. Elections officials [in California] have approximately one month (28 days for presidential electors and 30 days for all other contests) to complete their extensive tallying, auditing, and certification work (known as the ‘official canvass’). Most notably, voting by mail has increased significantly i
  4. countable, obsolete A thorough discussion or investigation. (Possibly; the meaning is unclear.) […] I haue learned this faſhion of Sᵗ. Hierome the Oracle of Antiquitie, vvho vvas vvont to entertaine his Paula, and Euſtochium, Marcella, Principia, Hedibia, and other deuout Ladies, vvith learned canuaſes of the deep pointes of Diuinity.
  5. obsolete, uncountable Rejection (at an election, of a suit, etc.). But vvhy ſhouldſt thou take thy Canvas ſo to heart? It may bee thou art not fit. But as a childe that vveares his fathers ſhooes, hat, headpeece, breſtplate, or breeches; or holds his ſpeare, but is nether able to vveild the one, or vveare the other; ſo vvouldſt thou doe by ſuch an office or Magiſtr

canvass²

  • /ˈkænvəs/ UK
  • /ˈkænvəs/ Canada, US
  • [ˈkɛənvəs] Canada, US
  • /ˈkænvəs/ Australia
  • /ˈkɛnvəs/ New Zealand

Sounds like canvas

Where it comes from

A variant of canvas (noun).

noun canvasses

  1. countable, obsolete, uncountable Obsolete spelling of canvas The double desire of being able to overtake a weaker flying enemy, or to escape when pursued by a stronger, has induced the owners to overmast their cruisers, and to spread too much canvass; and the great number of men, many of them not seamen, who being upon deck when a ship heels suddenly are hudd

Translations

Every language

verb to seek or solicit donations, information, opinions, support, etc. from (people or a place)

Españolcampañear, hacer campaña

verb to seek the support of (voters or a constituency) in a forthcoming election or poll through personal solicitation or public addresses

Españolsolicitar, encuestar
Françaissoliciter
Italianorastrellare voti, rastrellare consensi

verb to seek or solicit donations, information, opinions, support, etc.; to conduct a survey

Españolencuestar
Italianosaggiare, sondare, analizzare

noun seeking or solicitation of donations, information, opinions, support, etc.

Españolsolicitud, encuesta
DeutschMeinungsumfrage
Italianorichiesta, sollecitazione

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Cite this
MLA

"canvass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/canvass. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

canvass. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/canvass

Chicago

"canvass." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/canvass.

BibTeX
@misc{canvass_2026,
  title = {canvass},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/canvass},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}