impost
1 Americannoun
-
a tax; tribute; duty.
-
a customs duty.
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Horse Racing. the weight assigned to a horse in a race.
verb (used with object)
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imposts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
imposted,
past participle, past
-
imposting
present participle
noun
-
the point of springing of an arch; spring.
-
an architectural feature immediately beneath this point.
noun
-
a tax, esp a customs duty
-
horse racing the specific weight that a particular horse must carry in a handicap race
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
impostsimple
-
impostssimple
-
have impostedperfect
-
has impostedperfect
-
am impostingprogressive
-
are impostingprogressive
-
is impostingprogressive
-
have been impostingperfect progressive
-
has been impostingperfect progressive
Past
-
impostedsimple
-
had impostedperfect
-
was impostingprogressive
-
were impostingprogressive
-
had been impostingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of impost1
1560–70; < Medieval Latin impostus a tax, noun use of Latin impostus, variant of impositus imposed; see imposition
Origin of impost2
1655–65; < French imposte < Italian imposta < Latin: feminine of impostus (past participle); see impost 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He tells clients in a note that a sale for A$500 million plus appropriate brand value, with only a modest capital gains tax impost, would be positively received by investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
As early as 1781, superintendent of finance and Philadelphia financier Robert Morris had proposed an amendment to the Articles of Confederation that would authorize a 5 percent impost, or import tariff.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 18, 2018
In the 1968 Washington Park Handicap in Chicago, carrying an impost of 134 pounds, Dr. Fager won by 10 lengths and set the mile record of 1 minute 32 1/5 seconds.
From New York Times ● Aug. 13, 2015
She defied a penalty at Lingfield last time with ease and another 6lb impost for that victory is unlikely to stop her such was the manner of her success.
From The Guardian ● Jan. 23, 2013
Howard would surely appreciate a relatively low and equal impost.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
The spending clause allows Congress to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises all for the general welfare of the United States.
From Slate ● Jun. 23, 2026
Article I, Section 8 allows Congress to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 14, 2019
In policy matters, he proved obtuse, recommending, in one of his first initiatives, a blanket cancellation of all trade imposts.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 6, 2018
He and others, including former President Madison, argued that Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gave Congress the power to “lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises.”
From Textbooks ● Dec. 30, 2014
Riddle did not want to subject the horse to the extremely high imposts he was slated to carry.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
