tariff

American  

[tar-if] / ˈtær ɪf /

noun

1. an official list or table showing the duties or customs imposed by a government on imports or exports.

2. the schedule or system of duties so imposed.

3. any duty or rate of duty in such a list or schedule.

4. any table of charges, as of a railroad, bus line, etc.

5. bill; cost; charge.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a tariff.

2. to put a valuation on according to a tariff.

tariff British  

/ ˈtærɪf /

noun

1. 1. a tax levied by a government on imports or occasionally exports for purposes of protection, support of the balance of payments, or the raising of revenue

   2. a system or list of such taxes

2. any schedule of prices, fees, fares, etc

3. 1. a method of charging for the supply of services, esp public services, such as gas and electricity

      block tariff

   2. a schedule of such charges

4. a bill of fare with prices listed; menu

5. the level of punishment imposed for a criminal offence

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verb

1. to set a tariff on

2. to set a price on according to a schedule of tariffs

tariff Cultural  

1. A government tax on imports, designed either to raise revenue or to protect domestic industry from foreign competition.

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Usage

What does tariff mean? A tariff is a tax or duty on products that come into a country (imports) or leave it (exports), imposed by the country’s government.A tariff is also the list of taxes a government imposes on imports and exports.To tariff can mean to subject to a tariff.Example: There is a high tariff on foreign music CDs, so I just stream it instead.

Other Word Forms

• pretariff noun
• protariff adjective
• retariff verb (used with object)
• tariffless adjective

Etymology

Origin of tariff

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier tariffa, from Italian, from Arabic taʿrīfah, derivative of ʿarrafa “to make known,” akin to ʿarafa “to know”

Example Sentences

While the new tariff rate appeared to be a win for many Asian countries that had originally been hit with higher levies, significant uncertainties remain, analysts have told the BBC.

From BBC

It still faces a higher tariff than other regional economies, but the gap has narrowed, improving China’s relative standing and posing a threat to the recent electronics exports boom outside the country, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

A furious president immediately vowed to impose a global tariff of 10 percent under a separate authority, before raising it to 15 percent on Saturday.

From Barron's

Will billions of dollars from the overturned tariffs flow back to the hundreds of businesses demanding refunds?

From The Wall Street Journal

Find insight on tariffs on European pharmaceuticals and more in the latest Market Talks covering Health Care.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cost
• duty
• excise
• levy
• price
• rate
• tax
• toll