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

On one hand, the brand is positioning this as a special release for the duty-free market that should draw in consumers looking for something new; on the other hand, this could be seen as a testing ground. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026

The broader opportunity may ultimately come from becoming a more strategic partner to brands rather than simply offering duty-free production, Lu said. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

Another way to overcome fragmentation and boost growth is to develop the African Continental Free Trade Area, a pact ratified by 50 of Africa’s countries aimed at creating one of the world’s biggest duty-free zones. — Jared Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026

Approximately 80% of Canadian goods exported to the US still enter duty-free under the provisions of this agreement. — CNBC, 9 Sep. 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