tariff

1 of 2

noun

tar·​iff ˈter-əf 

ˈta-rəf

1

a

: 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 schedule of rates or charges of a business or a public utility

3

: price, charge

tariff

2 of 2

verb

tariffed; tariffing; tariffs

transitive verb

: to subject to a tariff

Examples of tariff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Trump has repeatedly promoted the idea of a tariff dividend in recent months, pitching the checks as a way to use money from his administration's import taxes to send thousands of dollars to lower and middle-income Americans. —Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 23 Dec. 2025

However, a pending Supreme Court case could nullify many of the tariffs he’s enacted and potentially result in large refunds to importers. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025

Verb

The first entries tariffed under IEEPA were liquidated on Monday. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 18 Dec. 2025

But reductions were 24% higher than a year ago and the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic – another sign of a volatile job market buffeted with economic challenges from slowing demand to tariff uncertainties. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian tariffa, from Arabic taʽrīf notification

First Known Use

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1694, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tariff

• protective tariff
• revenue tariff

Rhymes for tariff

• sherif
• sheriff
• nontariff

Kids Definition

tariff

noun

tar·​iff

ˈtar-əf

1

a

: a list of taxes placed by a government on imported or in some countries exported goods

b

: a tax or rate of tax set up in a tariff list

2

: a list of rates or charges of a business or public service company

Legal Definition

tariff

noun

tar·​iff ˈtar-əf 

1

a

: 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

Etymology

Noun

Italian tariffa, from Arabic taʽrīf notification