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

Higher interest rates, tariffs and supply-chain disruptions affect prices, inventory and incentives programs.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the long term, tariffs could achieve their desired effect of making some manufacturers more competitive with overseas producers.

From The Wall Street Journal

A customs union would eliminate tariffs or taxes on some or all goods between the UK and the EU, reducing bureaucracy.

From BBC

The U.S. economy has shaken off the tariff disruptions while the Fed has managed to keep inflation in check.

From Barron's

Likewise, at the start of 2025, both the dollar and the S&P 500 were on the decline due to a tariff shock rather than a weak dollar dragging down stocks.

From Barron's

Related Words

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