noun

tariff

/ˈtærɪf/ · say it: TAR·if

a tax on imported goods

In From the Business Pages

In more detail

1. (noun) a tax that a government puts on goods that come into or go out of a country

2. (noun) a list of prices for services or goods

Examples

1. The government raised tariffs on imported cars to protect local manufacturers.
2. The hotel posted its tariff on the wall showing room rates for each season.

How to use tariff

Tariff most commonly refers to taxes on international trade, typically used in economic and political contexts to discuss trade policy and protectionism. Less frequently, it refers to a published schedule of charges for services (hotels, transportation). The trade sense is dominant in contemporary usage.

Common phrases

import tariff
export tariff
impose a tariff
tariff barrier
tariff rate
tariff on goods

Synonyms

duty · tax · impost · customs charge · price list

Word family

tariffs (plural) · tariffed (adjective, less common)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse tariff with simple 'tax' or 'price'; remember that tariff specifically refers to duties on imported/exported goods or a formal pricing schedule, not general taxation.

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