levy

¹ American  

[lev-ee] / ˈlɛv i /

noun

plural

levies

1. an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force.

2. the amount owed or collected.

3. the conscription of troops.

4. the troops conscripted.

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verb (used with object)

levied, levying

1. to impose (a tax).

   to levy a duty on imports.

2. to conscript (troops).

   Synonyms:

   enlist, draft

3. to start or wage (war).

verb (used without object)

levied, levying

1. to seize or attach property by judicial order.

Levy ² American  

[lee-vee, lev-ee, lee-vee, -vahy] / ˈli vi, ˈlɛv i, ˈli vi, -vaɪ /

noun

1. Uriah Phillips, 1792–1862, U.S. naval commander.

2. a male given name.

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levy British  

/ ˈlɛvɪ /

verb

1. to impose and collect (a tax, tariff, fine, etc)

2. to conscript troops for service

3. to seize or attach (property) in accordance with the judgment of a court

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noun

1. 1. the act of imposing and collecting a tax, tariff, etc

   2. the money so raised

2. 1. the conscription of troops for service

   2. a person conscripted in this way

Other Word Forms

• levier noun
• relevy verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of levy

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English leve(e), from Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of lever “to raise,” from Latin levāre, akin to levis “light”; levee ²

Example Sentences

Singapore's civil aviation authority also said it is postponing a green jet fuel levy which was due to kick in from April 2026, due to the impact of the Iran war.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Analyst John Hester says Paragon Care might consider a special levy to pass on costs to pharmacists.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Revenue from the levy increased to nearly $3 billion during the 2025 fiscal year, from $2.46 billion a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Companies selling artificial intelligence models in Europe should pay a "levy" to support cultural industries, the head of French developer Mistral said Friday.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

So despite the third levy tax looming large in everyone’s minds, people were looking in their purses and wishing they’d bought a little something, just in case the snow came early.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• burden
• duty
• excise
• fee
• tariff