imposition

noun

im·​po·​si·​tion ˌim-pə-ˈzi-shən 

1

: something imposed: such as

a

: an excessive or uncalled-for requirement or burden

b

: levy, tax

2

: the act of imposing

3

: deception

4

: the order of arrangement of imposed pages

Synonyms

• tax
• levy

Examples of imposition in a Sentence

Your kids can stay with me the night you're away—it's really not an imposition.

the imposition of a life sentence on the defendant

the imposition of a tax on liquor

Recent Examples on the Web

But another source of revenue is emerging alongside the imposition and dutiful payment of these tariffs—catching tariff cheaters. —Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

The imposition of a 39% tariff on Swiss exports to the US has been greeted with shock, despair and much ire in Switzerland – the main newspaper NZZ greeting the move as ‘absurd’. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Trump's April 2 executive order, since delayed, called for the imposition of tariffs on a range of goods. —Russ Wiles, USA Today, 31 July 2025

Imports fell in the following three months as companies braced for the imposition of new taxes. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for imposition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

imposition

noun

im·​po·​si·​tion ˌim-pə-ˈzish-ən 

1

: the act of imposing

2

a

: something (as a tax) that is imposed

b

: a demand or request that is very troublesome