imposition

noun

im·​po·​si·​tion ˌim-pə-ˈzi-shən 

1

: something imposed: such as

a

: an excessive or uncalled-for requirement or burden

b

: levy, tax

2

: the act of imposing

3

: deception

4

: the order of arrangement of imposed pages

Synonyms

• assessment
• duty
• impost
• levy
• tax

Examples of imposition in a Sentence

Your kids can stay with me the night you're away—it's really not an imposition.

the imposition of a life sentence on the defendant

the imposition of a tax on liquor

Recent Examples on the Web

New car sales surged ahead of the imposition of tariffs and fears of higher consumer prices as a result, and the Trump administration softened the blow from its trade war on automakers by reducing levies on certain auto components. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2025

Lee, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party that controls parliament, leads opinion polls to win a snap presidential election set off by the ouster of conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law. —Reuters, NBC news, 1 May 2025

That explains another frontal attack on Medicaid mounted by the GOP: the imposition of work requirements on Medicaid enrollees. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025

While his polling on immigration remains positive, his approval on handling of the economy has tanked in recent weeks with the imposition of new tariffs and market turmoil. —Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for imposition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

imposition

noun

im·​po·​si·​tion ˌim-pə-ˈzish-ən 

1

: the act of imposing

2

a

: something (as a tax) that is imposed

b

: a demand or request that is very troublesome