noun
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the act or principle of levying taxes or the condition of being taxed
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an amount assessed as tax
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a tax rate
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revenue from taxes
Usage
What is taxation? Taxation is the act of making people and organizations pay taxes. Taxation is how a government collects money (taxes) in order to financially support itself. Governments use the money collected from citizens to pay for welfare programs, the military, roads and bridges, government employees, science programs, public schools, and the many other services a government is responsible for. Almost every country on Earth has some form of taxation system. Taxation is not voluntary, even if the taxpayer doesn’t directly benefit from the tax they pay. You cannot refuse to pay taxes without consequences. In most countries, you will be jailed or suffer another punishment for not paying taxes.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of taxation
1250–1300; < Medieval Latin taxātiōn- (stem of taxātiō ) an appraising ( see tax, -ation); replacing Middle English taxacioun < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin, as above
Explanation
Taxation refers to the practice of a government collecting money from its citizens to pay for public services. Without taxation, there would be no public libraries or parks. One of the most frequently debated political topics is taxation. Taxation is the practice of collecting taxes (money) from citizens based on their earnings and property. The money raised from taxation supports the government and allows it to fund police and courts, have a military, build and maintain roads, along with many other services. Taxation is the price of being a citizen, though politicians and citizens often argue about how much taxation is too little or too much.
Vocabulary lists containing taxation
American History I
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Liberty, Equality, Vocabulary: The French Revolution
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April Vocabulary Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“If you are not invested in the stock market, the transaction tax won’t affect you. If you not are bequesting money to family, that taxation may not affect you,” Schwabish said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
Irwin has represented California’s 42nd and 44th Assembly Districts since 2014 and has chaired legislative committees on climate change, cybersecurity, veterans affairs and taxation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Likewise, taxation abroad is country-specific and usually tied to residency and visa rules.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Rusden said he believed such a levy would act like "a form of taxation".
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Much of the state’s revenue was derived not from direct taxation, but from duties placed on goods moving in and out of the port.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
