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

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."

A published list of prices, fees, or rates.

"Check the hotel's tariff before booking a room."

"The electricity company offers several different tariffs."

verb

To impose a tax or duty on goods.

"The country tariffed imported electronics to protect local manufacturers."

How to use tariff

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

tariffed past tense, tariffs plural, tariffs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tariff” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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.

Origin: Italian

Synonyms

View more →

duty

Related words

right tax function duty responsibility task commitment customs

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.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include tariff:

Words with Italian origins Words that end with F

People also searched

right tax function duty responsibility task commitment customs