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

The chancellor also highlighted other measures aimed at cutting the cost of living, including freezing NHS prescription charges and regulated rail fares in England, as well as scrapping green levies added to energy bills.

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Reeves acknowledged that her tax and spending plans - including changes to cash Isas and levies on pensions - would "impact on working people".

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The income raised by the levy will be used to fund maintenance grants for disadvantaged students studying so-called priority courses such as university degrees and technical qualifications.

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Even as the country has not seen a broad inflation surge from tariffs, economists, policymakers and business owners note that the levies have added to costs.

Read more on Barron's

Nvidia has also privately pushed back against allegations of aggressive accounting practices levied by Big Short investor Michael Burry.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burden 
• duty 
• excise 
• fee 
• tariff