tariff

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noun tar·iff \ˈter-əf, ˈta-rəf\

Definition of tariff

1a : a schedule of duties imposed by a government on imported or in some countries exported goodsb : a duty or rate of duty imposed in such a schedule
2 : a schedule of rates or charges of a business or a public utility
3 : price, charge

See tariff defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of tariff from the Web

With Nafta talks due to begin in August, Trudeau’s cabinet has fanned out to lobby the White House, Congress and key U.S. governors to ward off proposals for a border tax or new trade tariffs.

— alan crawford, Bloomberg.com, "The Flashpoints for World Leaders at the Hamburg G-20", 6 July 2017
Trump's tariffs could represent an escalation of previous anti-dumping measures, skirting the WTO process.

— justin worland, Time, "Trump Considers Hardline on Chinese Steel in Advance of G20 Summit", 5 July 2017
There are no fences, no towers, no tariffs on goods passing between the two regions.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "Why the New U.K. Political Coalition Could Undermine Peace in Ireland", 5 July 2017
Experts fear a trade war could arise if Trump follows through with tariffs on those countries, which include, Canada, Mexico, Brazil the EU, Japan, and China.

— kara fox, CNN, "Trump's long list of disagreements with G20 nations", 5 July 2017
Six years before colonists dumped tea in Boston Harbor to protest British tariffs, the royalist governor of North Carolina, William Tryon, tried to appease local militiamen by roasting a whole ox.

— patrik jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, "Ambassadors of smoke", 2 July 2017
In that case, the country would see tariffs slapped on its exports to the bloc, its biggest trading partner.

— pan pylas and martin crutsinger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Yellen: Banking reforms should avert future financial crisis", 27 June 2017
When options and shipping were stirred in, the tester’s tariff swelled to $44,690, which seemed like pretty stiff stuff for a front-driver with the base engine.

— al haas, Philly.com, "Ford Edge is a spacious, drivable crossover", 23 June 2017
China's high tariffs on imported cars and auto parts have already emerged as a potential trade issue.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "American Corporations Will Not Be Told What to Do By Our Grifter-in-Chief", 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tariff'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tariff

Italian tariffa, from Arabic taʽrīf notification

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First Known Use: 1592

See Words from the same year

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

tariff

verb tar·iff

Definition of tariff

transitive verb
: to subject to a tariff

First Known Use of tariff

circa 1828

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

TARIFF Defined for English Language Learners

tariff

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noun

Definition of tariff for English Language Learners

: a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country
: a list of prices charged by a hotel or restaurant for meals, rooms, etc., or by a public company for gas, electricity, etc.

TARIFF Defined for Kids

tariff

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noun tar·iff \ˈter-əf\

Definition of tariff for Students

1 : a list of taxes placed by a government on goods coming into a country
2 : the tax or the rate of taxation set up in a tariff list

Law Dictionary

tariff

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noun tar·iff \ˈtar-əf\

Legal Definition of tariff

1a : a schedule of duties imposed by a government on imported or in some countries exported goods b : a duty or rate of duty imposed in such a schedule
2 : a document filed with the appropriate government agency that sets forth the rates, charges, and other provisions pertaining to services furnished by a business (as a carrier) or public utility