levy

1 of 2

noun

plural levies
1
a
: the imposition or collection of an assessment
The government imposed a levy on gasoline.
b
: an amount levied
2
a
: the enlistment or conscription of men for military service
b
: troops raised by levy
turned green levies into fighting soldiers

levy

2 of 2

verb

levied; levying

transitive verb

1
a
: to impose or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
b
: to require by authority
2
: to enlist or conscript for military service
3
: to carry on (war) : wage

intransitive verb

: to seize property
levier noun

Examples of levy in a Sentence

Noun the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers Verb They levied a tax on imports. The government will levy a fine on the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As of the start of this year, Spotify and its rivals (including France’s very own Deezer) had to start paying a 1.2% levy to a fund supporting the French music sector. David Meyer, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Hunt cut national insurance — a levy paid by people who work — by two percentage points. Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Districts also regularly ask voters to approve supplemental levies to cover some salaries and operating costs that go beyond state funding. Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2024 Johnson had proposed increasing one-time real estate transfer taxes on properties over $1 million, while reducing levies on transactions below that. Miranda Davis, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024 Melba would get about $3.1 million in a lump sum and additional money each year to help pay off its bonds and levies, according to estimates shared with the Statesman by the governor’s office on Feb. 20. Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2024 Jeremy Gordon, one of three Polk County commissioners, said his county has to ask voters to approve new levies every five years just to afford basic public services like 24/7 sheriff’s patrols, jail staff and district attorneys. Rob Davis, ProPublica, 2 Feb. 2024 One proposal put forward by the European Commission would involve using a special levy to collect the windfall interest income, which would then be paid into the EU budget for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Hanna Ziady, CNN, 1 Feb. 2024 Taxes also depended on what levies voters approved in the area. Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
The bonds were envisioned to be repaid through a mix of revenues from the project, including a ticket tax, parking fees, concession taxes, income taxes levied on athletes performing at the arena and naming rights from the district. Sarah Rankin, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 The new law gives Europe the power to fine tech companies up to 20 percent of their global turnover, meaning future fines could make dwarf $2 billion levied on Apple today. Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 Trump, Nauta and de Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty, and in Thursday's filings, the former president's legal team levied much of the same criticism against the probe that Trump has discussed on the campaign trail. Robert Legare, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2024 In Arizona, the legislation would give courts the power to levy alternative penalties if an offender can’t make payments. Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 22 Feb. 2024 The sustainability fee, levied by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, supports the community’s infrastructure operations, tourism initiatives, water conservation, wildlife management, recycling/waste disposal programs and environmental projects. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024 All of which requires a crucial third glance at the seemingly innocuous efforts by the CFPB to lower the charges levied on late payers. John Tamny, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Beijing, in fact, has helped Moscow avoid sanctions levied over its invasion of Ukraine, and trade between the nations has boosted Russia’s economy. Ethan Barton, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2024 Ford has levied hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines against its dealers because of the false billings. Detroit Free Press, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'levy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French levé, literally, raising, from lever to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of levy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near levy

Cite this Entry

“Levy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

levy

1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
a
: the laying or collection especially of a tax
b
: an amount levied
2
: the calling of troops into service

levy

2 of 2 verb
levied; levying
1
: to establish or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
levy a fine
2
: to raise or collect troops for military service

Legal Definition

levy

1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
: an act of levying: as
a
: the imposition or collection of a tax
b
: the seizure according to a writ of execution of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession to satisfy a judgment debt
2
: an amount levied : tax
providing for a levy of 3% on income up to $10,000D. Q. Posin

levy

2 of 2 verb
levied; levying

transitive verb

1
: to impose or collect (as a tax or fine) with authority
allow it to levy stiffer penalties for some safety violationsNational Law Journal
2
: to enforce or carry into effect (a writ of execution) compare attach, garnish

intransitive verb

: to enforce a writ of execution or attachment
specifically : to make a seizure of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession
they might as a last resort levy on his merchandise J. J. White and R. S. Summers

More from Merriam-Webster on levy

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