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

What tariffs mean for your wallet Tariffs – and their potential impact on shopper's budgets – are weighing heavily on consumers. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 July 2025

What new Trump tariffs may mean for your wallet President Donald Trump’s tariffs tanked markets and unleashed recession forecasts when the president unveiled sweeping levies little more than 100 days ago. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 19 July 2025

Verb

The plan is that Indonesia will remove all tariffs on U.S. imports while Indonesian exports to the U.S. will be tariffed at 19%, Trump told reporters. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 16 July 2025

Both South Korea and Japan will be tariffed at 25%. —Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian tariffa, from Arabic taʽrīf notification

First Known Use

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1828, 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