tariff

American  

[tar-if] / ˈtær ɪf /

noun

1. an official list or table showing the duties or customs imposed by a government on imports or exports.

2. the schedule or system of duties so imposed.

3. any duty or rate of duty in such a list or schedule.

4. any table of charges, as of a railroad, bus line, etc.

5. bill; cost; charge.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject to a tariff.

2. to put a valuation on according to a tariff.

tariff British  

/ ˈtærɪf /

noun

1. 1. a tax levied by a government on imports or occasionally exports for purposes of protection, support of the balance of payments, or the raising of revenue

   2. a system or list of such taxes

2. any schedule of prices, fees, fares, etc

3. 1. a method of charging for the supply of services, esp public services, such as gas and electricity

      block tariff

   2. a schedule of such charges

4. a bill of fare with prices listed; menu

5. the level of punishment imposed for a criminal offence

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verb

1. to set a tariff on

2. to set a price on according to a schedule of tariffs

tariff Cultural  

1. A government tax on imports, designed either to raise revenue or to protect domestic industry from foreign competition.

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Usage

What does tariff mean? A tariff is a tax or duty on products that come into a country (imports) or leave it (exports), imposed by the country’s government.A tariff is also the list of taxes a government imposes on imports and exports.To tariff can mean to subject to a tariff.Example: There is a high tariff on foreign music CDs, so I just stream it instead.

Other Word Forms

• pretariff noun
• protariff adjective
• retariff verb (used with object)
• tariffless adjective

Etymology

Origin of tariff

First recorded in 1585–95; earlier tariffa, from Italian, from Arabic taʿrīfah, derivative of ʿarrafa “to make known,” akin to ʿarafa “to know”

Example Sentences

Over the last few years, the job market has weathered the most aggressive rate-hiking cycle in decades, a regional banking crisis and a tariff shock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

She raises her 2026 revenue forecast by 6.0% to reflect overall throughput growth and continued tariff uplift across both China and overseas terminals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The tariff should be seen as a warning for more intense competition between the U.S. and China’s biotech and pharma sectors, he says, noting that China has developed into a biopharma innovation hub.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

But unlike a unilateral tariff, a peace deal requires both sides to agree.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The tariff controversy was settled, but it hinted at a greater problem.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• cost
• duty
• excise
• levy
• price
• rate
• tax
• toll