levy

1 of 2

noun

plural levies
1
a
: the imposition or collection of an assessment
The government imposed a levy on gasoline.
b
: an amount levied
2
a
: the enlistment or conscription of men for military service
b
: troops raised by levy
turned green levies into fighting soldiers

levy

2 of 2

verb

levied; levying

transitive verb

1
a
: to impose or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
b
: to require by authority
2
: to enlist or conscript for military service
3
: to carry on (war) : wage

intransitive verb

: to seize property
levier noun

Examples of levy in a Sentence

Noun the legislators approved a new levy on imported cattle to help protect American ranchers Verb They levied a tax on imports. The government will levy a fine on the company.
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.
Noun
Pro tips: Check what's on your sample ballot and use Franklin County's levy estimator to see how your property taxes would be affected by a successful levy or bond issue. Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024 Byron Callan, aerospace and defense analyst with Capital Alpha Partners The U.S. got a taste of the damage that tariffs wreak after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff in 2018 on most steel imports and a 10% levy on aluminum. Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
The city will repay the money using annual property taxes levied on all taxable property within the city. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Of the €60 billion worth of cuts and tax rises, two-thirds will come from cost-cutting efforts, while the rest will be from taxes levied on the rich. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for levy 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French levé, literally, raising, from lever to raise — more at lever

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of levy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near levy

Cite this Entry

“Levy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/levy. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

levy

1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
a
: the laying or collection especially of a tax
b
: an amount levied
2
: the calling of troops into service

levy

2 of 2 verb
levied; levying
1
: to establish or collect by legal authority
levy a tax
levy a fine
2
: to raise or collect troops for military service

Legal Definition

levy

1 of 2 noun
plural levies
1
: an act of levying: as
a
: the imposition or collection of a tax
b
: the seizure according to a writ of execution of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession to satisfy a judgment debt
2
: an amount levied : tax
providing for a levy of 3% on income up to $10,000D. Q. Posin

levy

2 of 2 verb
levied; levying

transitive verb

1
: to impose or collect (as a tax or fine) with authority
allow it to levy stiffer penalties for some safety violationsNational Law Journal
2
: to enforce or carry into effect (a writ of execution) compare attach, garnish

intransitive verb

: to enforce a writ of execution or attachment
specifically : to make a seizure of real or personal property in a judgment debtor's possession
they might as a last resort levy on his merchandise J. J. White and R. S. Summers

More from Merriam-Webster on levy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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