tariff
tariff
UK[ˈtærɪf]US[ˈtærɪf]
n
a tax that a government charges on goods coming into or sometimes going out of a country
n
a list of fixed prices, especially for rooms or meals in a hotel or restaurant
Etymology
the journey of 'tariff' into english is a story of trade and administration. it entered the language in the late 16th century from french, which had adopted it from the italian 'tariffa', a term for a set list of prices or duties. the italian word, in turn, is believed to originate from the arabic 'taʿrīf', meaning 'notification' or 'inventory'. this etymological path reflects the historical movement of commercial concepts from the arabic-speaking mediterranean world to europe, with the core idea evolving from a general 'notification' to a specific, official schedule of taxes on traded goods.
Analysis
the word 'tariff' is a loanword from french, which borrowed it from italian 'tariffa'. the italian term likely derives from arabic 'taʿrīf' (تعريف), meaning 'notification' or 'list of fees'. it functions as a simplex noun in english.
Examples
the government imposed a high tariff on imported steel to protect domestic producers.
before booking, you should check the hotel's tariff for the holiday season.
trade negotiations often focus on reducing tariffs to encourage the free flow of goods.