tariff

[tar-if]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a tariff.

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

tariff

/ 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

verb

1. to set a tariff on

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

tariff

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tariff¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tariff¹

C16: from Italian tariffa, from Arabic ta`rīfa to inform

Example Sentences

It has rocked the fragile tariffs truce with the US.

Read more on BBC

They are folding under economic pressure to get the best tariff deal possible and limit the damage.

Read more on Barron's

Companies like McCormick & Company and Conagra Brands report rising costs due to tariffs, impacting gross margins and potentially leading to price increases.

Read more on Barron's

Analysts said Modi is pursuing two goals: securing a trade deal with Washington that would lower tariffs, while avoiding any disruptions to India’s energy supplies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. government ran a slightly smaller budget shortfall in the most recent year thanks to higher tariff revenue — but the national debt still rose to another record high, and shows no sign of slowing.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.