duty-free

adjective or adverb

ˌdü-tē-ˈfrē 

ˌdyü-, 

ˈd(y)ü-tē-ˌfrē

1

: without payment of customs duties : free from duties

imported duty-free

duty-free goods

2

: relating to or selling duty-free goods

a duty-free shop

Examples of duty-free in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

China has moved to near-universal duty-free, quota-free access for African exports. — Daniele Nyirandutiye, semafor.com, 6 July 2026

According to the European Commission, the duty-free de minimis exemption was introduced in order to alleviate administrative burdens for customs authorities and businesses, but the digitalization of customs procedures has ameliorated that issue. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Those vehicles, however, are not subject to tariffs, due to the the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which allows for duty-free trade of vehicles assembled in North America. — Bob Woods, CNBC, 6 June 2026

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport is also bustling, with passengers thronging around its duty-free shops. — Melanie Swan, CNN Money, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for duty-free

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy