tax

1 of 3

noun

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 3

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 3

combining form

variants or taxo- or less commonly taxi-

: arrangement

taxeme

taxidermy

Synonyms

Noun

• assessment
• duty
• imposition
• impost
• levy

Verb

• strain
• stretch
• test
• try

Examples of tax in a Sentence

Noun

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

The investigation uncovered overwhelming evidence that Tweed was siphoning millions from city tax coffers. —TIME, 20 May 2024

Advertisement One of the writers, Washington attorney David B. Rivkin, had helped write an appeal petition asking the court to take up a major tax case and rule the Constitution forbids levies on undistributed corporate profits. —David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024

The city’s tax increment financing commission was also ready to make deals. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2024

Answer: Many fee-only financial planners work with tax professionals such as CPAs to craft Roth conversion plans that can reduce future taxes. —Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024

Billions of tax dollars have been invested in green energy, real estate development and high-tech manufacturing projects, sometimes with dubious results. —Michael Paulson, New York Times, 17 May 2024

Board president Cameron Bryan said no tax dollars will be used. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 May 2024

The repayment plan, at least in its present form, appears not to be a major general fund burden, with $2.5 million out of $7.8 million, in total, in annual payments derived from casino annual tax in-lieu funds, and another $2.5 million coming directly from the Sacramento Zoological Society. —Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024

In a tax incremental financing district, funds are reallocated from property taxes to encourage investment within the district. —Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 8 May 2024

Verb

And while a gentle, light-hearted romp is indeed welcomed in these taxing times, there’s much left to be desired from our journey with these likable but under-developed characters. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 9 May 2024

In other words, only income over the limit for each tax bracket gets taxed at the higher rates. —Clint Haynes, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2024

Borrowing now is the same as taxing later, when bondholders will need to be repaid with real money. —The Editors, National Review, 8 May 2024

Much of that recharge took place in the San Joaquin Valley, where aquifers have been heavily taxed by pumping for agriculture. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 May 2024

The mental toll of the taxing Covid-19 pandemic hangs over the public, health care workers, public health agencies, and governments. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 7 May 2024

Carr has been critical of MPS leadership and opposed the April 2 referendum that raised the district's taxing authority. —Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024

Excess salt also raises your risk of high blood pressure, which, in turn, taxes the heart. —Lambeth Hochwald, Health, 3 May 2024

The costs of improvements to the home can be subtracted from gross capital gains, but if what remains is still over that $500,000 limit, it is taxed up to 20 percent, depending on the owner’s income. —Michael Kolomatsky, New York Times, 2 May 2024

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

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
• poll tax
• pre-tax
• property tax
• proportional tax
• sales tax
• severance tax
• single tax
• sin tax
• stamp 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

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