tax

1 of 6

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 6

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 6

combining form

variants or taxo- or less commonly taxi-

: arrangement

taxeme

taxidermy

taxis

4 of 6

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 6

plural of taxi entry 1

third person singular of taxi entry 2

-taxis

6 of 6

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

Another factor worth evaluating is your incomes and how combining them (or keeping them separate) influences your total tax bill. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026

In the 1930s, the Nazi government used a variety of forms of public data including tax returns and census records to help identify Jews who would be rounded up and sent to concentration camps where millions were killed. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Verb

The effort has been working, but the need for such a massive, taxing and expensive operation proves how much influence Iran has gained over the Strait of Hormuz. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Both approaches can leave parents feeling even more taxed and out of control. — Juli Fraga, CNBC, 6 Sep. 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 entry 1

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
• capital gains tax
• capital gain 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