duty-free

adjective or adverb

ˌdü-tē-ˈfrē How to pronounce duty-free (audio)
ˌdyü-,
ˈd(y)ü-tē-ˌfrē
1
: without payment of customs duties : free from duties
imported duty-free
duty-free goods
2
: relating to or selling duty-free goods
a duty-free shop

Examples of duty-free in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plenty of travelers have been known to bring back a bottle of gin from a trip to London—or any duty-free shop, for that matter. Forbes Staff, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 The 54% tariff on goods worth less than $800 from China that previously were shipped to the US duty-free under the de minimis exemption could also be halted. Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 29 May 2025 That’s because earlier this month, a major shipping loophole, known as the de minimis exemption, which allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, expired. Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 May 2025 Global duty-free operator, Lagardère Travel Retail (LTR), has partnered with South African tourism company, Tourvest, to pursue travel retail opportunities across the African continent, starting with South Africa itself. Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for duty-free

Word History

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of duty-free was in 1689

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Cite this Entry

“Duty-free.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duty-free. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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