Word
tariff
Phoneticstar·iff, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛɹəf/
UK/tˈæɹɪf/
Definitions
01import/export tax
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
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.
“The government decided to lower the tariff on imported cars to make them cheaper for buyers.”
“Economists warned that imposing a steep tariff on steel imports would likely trigger a retaliatory trade war with major partners.”
02price list
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
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.
“You should check the hotel's tariff before booking to see the cost of extra services.”
“The energy provider introduced a new green tariff that offers lower rates for customers who use electricity during off-peak hours.”
03prison sentence
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law British English · Technical
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.
“The judge set a twenty-year tariff for the crime, meaning the prisoner cannot leave before then.”
“The Home Secretary's power to increase a judicial tariff was successfully challenged in the high court on human rights grounds.”
Usage
Commonly used in the context of life sentences to specify the punitive element of the term.
04to apply a tax
C1 · Advanced Academic
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.
“The country decided to tariff all foreign electronics to protect its own factories.”
“By choosing to tariff agricultural imports, the administration aimed to bolster domestic farming despite the risk of rising consumer prices.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tariff” in context.
Real-World Examples
“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.” “NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks to Wall Street Journal business reporter Theo Francis about refunds some businesses are getting on the billions of dollars they've paid on President Trump's tariffs.” Etymology
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.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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