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

Images | LightRocket | Getty Images The Trump administration’s tariff policy rattled stocks last week, and uncertainty weighed on the major averages. —Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 9 Mar. 2025

In Democratic response, Slotkin says Trump has no credible plan to lower grocery prices Schiff also expressed frustration and disapproval of Trump’s whiplash tariff agenda. —Isabel Danzis, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025

Verb

Goods from Canada and Mexico will see 25% tariffs, with a carve-out for energy products from Canada being tariffed at 10%. —Jj Kinahan, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Tags Richard Neal tariffs Trump trade war Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 4 Mar. 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