levy

¹ American  

[lev-ee] / ˈlɛv i /

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.

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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 American  

[lee-vee, lev-ee, lee-vee, -vahy] / ˈli vi, ˈlɛv i, ˈli vi, -vaɪ /

noun

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

2. a male given name.

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levy British  

/ 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

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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)

Etymology

Origin of levy

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

Example Sentences

This levy could be raised to 15% at any point in the next 150 days.

From The Wall Street Journal

As you note, only a handful of states levy an inheritance tax — Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania — and the amount owed typically depends on the heir’s relationship to the deceased.

From MarketWatch

He repeated his criticism of the ruling and said levies "will remain in place under fully approved and tested alternative legal statuses", but offered little in the way of detail on his plans.

From BBC

Higher levies on imports lead to higher costs and fewer choices.

From The Wall Street Journal

The EU executive told senior diplomats if imports face a blanket 10-percent levy, pre-existing duties mean some products could end up being taxed at a higher rate than the trade deal's 15 percent.

From Barron's

Related Words

• burden
• duty
• excise
• fee
• tariff