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
For the time being, that means pharmaceuticals, for instance, could be imported from countries duty-free.
—
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
The closure of the duty-free trade exemption on packages worth less than $800 on May 2 did a number on air cargo in between the Chinese and U.S. markets.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Aug. 2025
Most of its goods are made in Canada and are eligible for duty-free treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 31 July 2025
President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday, ending a trade loophole that allows for low-value goods to be shipped to the U.S. duty-free.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for duty-free
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
The closure of the duty-free trade exemption on packages worth less than $800 on May 2 did a number on air cargo in between the Chinese and U.S. markets.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Aug. 2025
Most of its goods are made in Canada and are eligible for duty-free treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 31 July 2025
President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday, ending a trade loophole that allows for low-value goods to be shipped to the U.S. duty-free.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for duty-free
Cite this Entry
“Duty-free.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duty-free. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share