tampon tax

noun

plural tampon taxes

: the sales tax applied to feminine hygiene products (such as tampons or sanitary napkins) used during menstruation

The tampon tax is a colloquial term for the fact that female hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary napkins do not receive the same tax exemptions as other necessities like groceries and prescription medicine.

—Mary McFadden

compare pink tax

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above