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
Since the African Growth and Opportunity Act was implemented in 2000, sub-Saharan African nations have exchanged goods duty-free with the US, boosting trans-Atlantic trade.
—
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Nearly a quarter-century old, AGOA provided 32 sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the American market for 1,800 different product categories.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
The limits on duty-free imports of specialty sugar plus a new 50% tariff on Brazil, which supplies 40% of the U.S.’ organic sugar, is especially difficult because organic products are already more expensive than their conventional counterparts.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Trump has subjected South Africa to some of the highest tariff rates of any African country and is set to end its duty-free access to U.S. markets, which will cost the country tens of thousands of jobs.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for duty-free
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Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Nearly a quarter-century old, AGOA provided 32 sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the American market for 1,800 different product categories.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
The limits on duty-free imports of specialty sugar plus a new 50% tariff on Brazil, which supplies 40% of the U.S.’ organic sugar, is especially difficult because organic products are already more expensive than their conventional counterparts.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Trump has subjected South Africa to some of the highest tariff rates of any African country and is set to end its duty-free access to U.S. markets, which will cost the country tens of thousands of jobs.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 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 10 Oct. 2025.
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