verb
Common
levy
LEH-vee
Levy (verb) means to officially impose and collect a tax, fine, or other charge. Example: “The government decided to levy a new tax on sugary drinks.”
verb
1
To officially impose and collect a tax, fine, or other charge.
"The government decided to levy a new tax on sugary drinks."
"Customs officers levied a fine for the undeclared goods."
"Some cities levy a small charge on hotel guests."
2
To call up people for military service.
"The king levied troops from every county in the realm."
"The commander levied soldiers from the surrounding villages."
"Rulers once levied men from farms whenever war threatened."
noun
1
A tax, fine, or other compulsory payment.
"Homeowners face a new levy to fund local road repairs."
"The council voted to raise the school levy."
"Shoppers now pay a levy on every plastic bag."
2
A body of troops raised by conscription.
"The general assembled a levy of untrained farmhands."
"The captain trained the new levy before sending it to the border."
"The village sent a levy of young men to join the army."
How to use levy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo officially demand and collect money (like a tax) — or, as a noun, the tax or charge itself.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "levee" (a river embankment) — they sound alike but are unrelated in meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
levy a tax
levy a fine
impose a levy
a new levy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like levy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- levies
- Third person singular
- levies
- Past tense
- levied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The government decided to _____ a new tax on sugary drinks.
Etymology
From Old French levee, from lever ("to raise"), from Latin levare ("to raise, lift").
Related words
Rhymes for levy
See all rhymes for levy →Frequently asked questions
What does “levy” mean?
The word “levy” means to officially impose and collect a tax, fine, or other charge. In plain terms, to officially demand and collect money (like a tax) — or, as a noun, the tax or charge itself.
How do you pronounce “levy”?
“Levy” is pronounced LEH-vee (/ˈlɛ.vi/ in IPA).
How do you use “levy” in a sentence?
Here is “levy” used in a sentence: “The government decided to levy a new tax on sugary drinks.”
What part of speech is “levy”?
Depending on how it is used, “levy” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “levy” come from?
The word “levy” comes from Latin. From Old French levee, from lever ("to raise"), from Latin levare ("to raise, lift").
Is “levy” a common word?
“Levy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “levy” have?
“Levy” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially impose and collect a tax, fine, or other charge.
What is the difference between a levy and a tax?
A levy is a broader term for any compulsory payment officially imposed and collected, such as a tax, fine, or other charge, while tax specifically refers to a payment collected by a government to fund public services. All taxes can be described as levies, but not all levies are necessarily called taxes, such as a special fine or charge.
How is levy used as a verb?
As a verb, levy means to officially impose and collect a tax, fine, or other charge, as in 'the government will levy a new tariff.' It can also mean to call up people for military service, as in raising a levy of troops.
What does levy mean in a military context?
In a military context, a levy refers to a body of troops raised by conscription, and levy as a verb can mean to call up people for military service. This usage is historical, often associated with earlier periods when armies were assembled through compulsory enlistment.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include levy:
