tariff
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a tax that a government charges on goods that are brought into or sent out of a country.
n.a schedule of duties or taxes imposed by a government on imported or exported goods.
Simple“The government decided to lower the tariff on imported cars to make them cheaper for buyers.”
In context“Economists warned that imposing a steep tariff on steel imports would likely trigger a retaliatory trade war with major partners.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a list of prices or fees for a service, like electricity or a hotel room.
n.a schedule of rates, fees, or prices for a specific service or utility.
Simple“You should check the hotel's tariff before booking to see the cost of extra services.”
In context“The energy provider introduced a new green tariff that offers lower rates for customers who use electricity during off-peak hours.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the minimum amount of time a person must stay in prison for a serious crime.
n.the minimum period of imprisonment that a person must serve before becoming eligible for parole.
Simple“The judge set a twenty-year tariff for the crime, meaning the prisoner cannot leave before then.”
In context“The Home Secretary's power to increase a judicial tariff was successfully challenged in the high court on human rights grounds.”
UsageCommonly used in the context of life sentences to specify the punitive element of the term.
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to put a tax on goods that are traded with other countries.
v.to impose a duty or tax on specific goods or services, typically in an international trade context.
Simple“The country decided to tariff all foreign electronics to protect its own factories.”
In context“By choosing to tariff agricultural imports, the administration aimed to bolster domestic farming despite the risk of rising consumer prices.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Usage tariffs on steel
“The United States hit us with tariffs; we hit them back with tariffs.”
“Trump’s latest tariff threat includes some products previously tariff-exempt under CUSMA.”
From Italian tariffa (“arithmetical table; list of customs duties”), from Arabic تَعْرِيف (taʕrīf, “notification, explanation”). Equivalent to Portuguese and Spanish tarifa and the French tarif and first attested in 1592.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.