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

Trump sees that reliance as a security issue and believes tariffs can bring more manufacturing to America. —John Bacon, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025

Such tariffs could impose huge costs on Nvidia’s business, which primarily relies on chip and hardware manufacturing in Asia. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025

Verb

But the existing 25% tariff on their exports to the US that don’t comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement remains in place, except for Canadian energy and potash, which is tariffed at 10%. —Rachel Wilson, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025

Trump administration Trump auto tariffs Trump tariff agenda Wisconsin Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 2 Apr. 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