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• levy
  levy

  noun

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

  noun

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

levy

¹ American  

[lev-ee] / ˈlɛv i /

noun

levies plural

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”; cf. levee ²

Explanation

Use the word levy as you would use the word tax: “When the state government imposed a levy on soft drinks, thousands of citizens took to the streets in protest.” The word levy can act as either a verb or a noun in a sentence. The noun levy refers to a charge, such as a tax, fine, or other fee, that is imposed on something. The verb levy is used to describe the act of imposing or collecting the charge. If you need to raise money, for example, you may decide to levy a fine on your family every time you have to make the coffee in the morning. (Be careful though: your family may also take to the streets in protest.)

Example Sentences

The new 30% environmental levy on used clothing comes on top of an existing 35% import duty and 18% VAT.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Once the French menace had lifted, Britain increasingly beset America with taxes that Washington felt it had no right to levy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The annual tax-free allowance for the levy is £3,000 and anything above this is taxed at rates that depend on a person's income band.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

He turned to a separate law to impose a temporary 10% levy on all countries in the meantime, while launching an investigation into China and other countries over unfair trade practices.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

So despite the third levy tax looming large in everyone’s minds, people were looking in their purses and wishing they’d bought a little something, just in case the snow came early.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• burden
• duty
• excise
• fee
• tariff