levy

¹

[lev-ee]

noun

plural

levies 

1. an imposing or collecting, as of a tax, by authority or force.

2. the amount owed or collected.

3. the conscription of troops.

4. the troops conscripted.

verb (used with object)

levied, levying 

1. to impose (a tax).

   to levy a duty on imports.

2. to conscript (troops).

   Synonyms: enlist, draft

3. to start or wage (war).

verb (used without object)

levied, levying 

1. to seize or attach property by judicial order.

Levy

²

[lee-vee, lev-ee, lee-vee, -vahy]

noun

1. Uriah Phillips, 1792–1862, U.S. naval commander.

2. a male given name.

levy

/ ˈlɛvɪ /

verb

1. to impose and collect (a tax, tariff, fine, etc)

2. to conscript troops for service

3. to seize or attach (property) in accordance with the judgment of a court

noun

1. 1. the act of imposing and collecting a tax, tariff, etc

   2. the money so raised

2. 1. the conscription of troops for service

   2. a person conscripted in this way

Other Word Forms

• relevy verb (used with object)
• levier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of levy¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English leve(e), from Middle French, noun use of feminine past participle of lever “to raise,” from Latin levāre, akin to levis “light”; levee ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of levy¹

C15: from Old French levée a raising, from lever, from Latin levāre to raise

Example Sentences

But by 1937, any Jewish family who tried to leave Germany was forced to surrender 92% of its wealth to the state - paying a host of levies known as the Reichsfluchtsteuer or Reich Flight Tax.

Read more on BBC

The two countries have since lowered their respective levies but their truce has remained shaky.

Read more on Barron's

Lubowski, the judge, appeared to levy criticism on Friday against the German state for both helping build the pipelines and providing gas revenues to Moscow, as well as for investigating the sabotage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The BBC understands Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering action to bring down energy bills, for example, by reducing levies.

Read more on BBC

Last week, the United States threatened countries who vote in favour of the framework with sanctions, visa restrictions and port levies, calling the proposal a "global carbon tax on the world".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burden 
• duty 
• excise 
• fee 
• tariff