noun
Uncommon
tariff
TA-rihf
Tariff (noun) means a tax charged by a government on goods coming into or leaving a country. Example: “The government raised tariffs on imported steel.”
noun
1
A tax charged by a government on goods coming into or leaving a country.
"The government raised tariffs on imported steel."
"New tariffs made foreign cars more expensive to buy."
"Farmers complained that the new tariff made their exported cheese harder to sell abroad."
2
A published list of prices, fees, or rates.
"Check the hotel's tariff before booking a room."
"The electricity company offers several different tariffs."
"The café displays its tariff by the door, so you can see the prices."
verb
1
To impose a tax or duty on goods.
"The country tariffed imported electronics to protect local manufacturers."
"The government decided to tariff imported furniture to help local makers."
"Some countries tariff foreign goods heavily to protect their own industries."
How to use tariff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tax on imports/exports, or more generally a published price list (like an energy tariff).
UK vs US
In the UK, "tariff" is commonly used for household energy price plans; in the US it's used almost exclusively for trade duties.
Common pairings
impose a tariff
trade tariff
energy tariff
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Word forms
- Plural
- tariffs
- Third person singular
- tariffs
- Past tense
- tariffed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The government raised _____ on imported steel.
Etymology
From Italian tariffa, meaning a list of customs duties, ultimately from an Arabic word meaning notification or explanation.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “tariff” mean?
The word “tariff” means a tax charged by a government on goods coming into or leaving a country. In plain terms, a tax on imports/exports, or more generally a published price list (like an energy tariff).
How do you pronounce “tariff”?
“Tariff” is pronounced TA-rihf (/ˈtæɹəf/ in IPA).
How do you use “tariff” in a sentence?
Here is “tariff” used in a sentence: “The government raised tariffs on imported steel.”
What part of speech is “tariff”?
Depending on how it is used, “tariff” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tariff” come from?
The word “tariff” comes from Italian. From Italian tariffa, meaning a list of customs duties, ultimately from an Arabic word meaning notification or explanation.
Is “tariff” a common word?
“Tariff” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tariff” have?
“Tariff” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tax charged by a government on goods coming into or leaving a country.
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