tax

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈtaks 

often attributive

1

a

: a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes

b

: a sum levied on members of an organization to defray expenses

2

: a heavy demand

tax

2 of 5

verb

taxed; taxing; taxes

transitive verb

1

: to levy a tax on

2

: to make onerous and rigorous demands on

the job taxed her strength

3

: charge, accuse

taxed him with neglect of duty

also : censure

4

: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action)

5

obsolete : to enter (a name) in a list

… there went out a decree … that all the world should be taxed.

—Luke 2:1 (King James Version)

taxable

ˈtak-sə-bəl 

adjective

taxer noun

tax-

3 of 5

combining form

variants or taxo- or less commonly taxi-

: arrangement

taxeme

taxidermy

taxis

4 of 5

noun (2)

tax·​is ˈtak-səs 

plural taxes ˈtak-ˌsēz 

1

: reflex translational or orientational movement by a freely motile and usually simple organism in relation to a source of stimulation (such as a light or a temperature or chemical gradient)

2

: a reflex reaction involving a taxis

-taxis

5 of 5

noun combining form

plural -taxes

1

: arrangement : ordering

thermotaxis

2

: physiological taxis

chemotaxis

Synonyms of tax

Noun (1)

• levy
• tariff
• imposition

Verb

• stretch
• strain
• try
• test
• get (to)
• push

Examples of tax in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The decision was made to raise taxes.

He was accused of evading taxes.

What was your income before taxes?

What is the amount of tax to be paid?

What was your income before tax?

Verb

He believes in taxing the rich to give to the poor.

You are taxed according to your income.

puzzles that tax your brain

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ervin also believes that dollars in tax increment financing districts in parts of the city that happen also to generate the bulk of meter revenues could be part of the financing mosaic. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

The painful memory of the last citywide revaluation in 2021 is still fresh, with a broad cross-section of homeowners experiencing real estate tax bill sticker shock as residential property values soared in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Verb

New York City’s election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor has only supercharged the state’s naysayers, including a public feud by Mamdani and Griffin over taxing the rich. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

The burden of proof in any tax audit or dispute is on the plaintiff to demonstrate that any portion of a settlement should not be taxed, or should be taxed as capital gain rather than ordinary income. — Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to estimate, assess, tax, from Anglo-French taxer, from Medieval Latin taxare, from Latin, to feel, estimate, censure, frequentative of tangere to touch — more at tangent entry 2

Combining form

Greek taxi-, from taxis

Noun (2)

borrowed from German Taxis, borrowed from Greek táxis "drawing up in rank and file, order of battle, arrangement, order," from tag-, stem of tássein (Attic táttein) "to draw up in order (as troops, ships), post, station, place in order, prescribe, assess" + -sis -sis — more at tactic entry 2

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek táxis "arrangement, disposition, order" — more at taxis

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun (2)

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tax

• after-tax
• alternative minimum tax
• anti-tax
• death tax
• direct tax
• estate tax
• excise tax
• flat tax
• hidden tax
• income tax
• (income) tax return
• inheritance tax
• negative income tax
• nuisance tax
• payroll tax
• personal tax
• pink tax
• poll tax
• pre-tax
• property tax
• proportional tax
• sales tax
• severance tax
• single tax
• sin tax
• stamp tax
• tampon tax
• tax abatement
• tax base
• tax break
• tax burden
• tax credit
• tax-deductible
• tax-deferred
• tax disc
• tax-exempt
• tax exile
• tax fiddler
• tax-free
• tax haven
• tax refund
• tax selling
• tax shelter
• tax stamp
• tax with
• value-added tax
• withholding tax

Rhymes for tax

• axe
• backs
• blacks
• cracks
• fax
• flax
• hacks
• jacks
• knacks
• lacks
• lakhs
• lax

Kids Definition

tax

1 of 2 verb

ˈtaks 

1

: to require to pay a tax

2

: to accuse of something

taxed them with carelessness

3

: to make heavy demands on : strain

taxed our strength

taxer noun

tax

2 of 2 noun

1

: a charge usually of money set by authority on persons or property for public purposes

2

: something (as an effort or duty) that makes heavy demands : strain

Legal Definition

tax

1 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs of an action in court)

2

: to levy a tax on

tax the corporation

tax capital gains

taxer noun

tax

2 of 2 noun

often attributive

1

: a charge usually of money imposed by legislative or other public authority upon persons or property for public purposes

2

: a sum levied on members of an organization to defray expenses

Etymology

Transitive verb

Medieval Latin taxare to assess for taxation, tax, from Latin, to assess, value, fix