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

• levier noun
• relevy verb (used with object)

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

This left US tariffs on Chinese goods facing an added 30% levy compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering China face a 10% tariff.

Read more on BBC

For example, the bulk of the total possible fine was linked to the alleged missed inspections, but the agency chose to levy just a $10,000 penalty for each of the company’s 11 permits.

Read more on Salon

He announced extra levies -- plus export controls on "critical software" -- due to take effect from November 1, and threatened to cancel a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Read more on Barron's

But here’s the problem with levying tariffs on Canadian oil: America needs it.

Read more on MarketWatch

"The United States will be moving to levy these remedies against nations that sponsor this European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations," the statement said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burden 
• duty 
• excise 
• fee 
• tariff