ad valorem

American

[ad vuh-lawr-uhm, -lohr-] / æd vəˈlɔr əm, -ˈloʊr- /

adjective

in proportion to the value (used especially of duties on imports that are fixed at a percentage of the value as stated on the invoice).

ad valorem British

/ æd vəˈlɔːrəm /

adjective

Abbreviation: ad val, a.v., A/V. (of taxes) in proportion to the estimated value of the goods taxed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ad valorem

< Latin: literally, according to the worth

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.

See Examples For:

ad valorem

Bigger drones that have militarily-sensitive abilities such as thermal imaging are subject to a 100% ad valorem tariff, along with certain critical components.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

For homeowners 65 and older, there’s an additional $4,000 exemption from county ad valorem taxes.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026

An executive order published by the White House on Thursday said that "certain agricultural products shall not be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty imposed."

From Barron's ● Nov. 20, 2025

There will also be a 1% ad valorem tax based on sales for miners that post a profit.

From Reuters ● Jul. 13, 2023

To check the evil the Chinese government during 1903 imposed a tax of about 200% ad valorem, with the result that the imports declared to the customs fell in 1905 to 54 oz. only.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 2 "Chicago, University of" to "Chiton" by Various

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023