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

Trump would also create tax exemptions that would reduce the revenues that fund these programs, according to studies by non-partisan groups like the Committee for a Responsible Budget. —Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024

Such health policy changes could be advanced as part of a large tax measure in 2025, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told NBC News. —Stephanie Armour | Kff Health News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The proceeds from that sale eventually will be distributed to you (from either the 401(k) or an IRA rollover) and be taxed as ordinary income. —Bob Carlson, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

Social Security benefits are only taxed to pay into the Social Security trust fund. —Ben Adler, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 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