Tax — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtaks/

Meaning & Definition of Tax

Tax (noun)

  1. a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes
  2. a sum levied on members of an organization to defray expenses
  3. a heavy demand

Tax (verb)

  1. to levy a tax on
  2. to make onerous and rigorous demands on
  3. charge, accuse; also, censure

Tax (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a charge usually of money collected by the government from people or businesses for public use

    "the state sales tax boosted the final cost of my new computer"

    similar: assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy
    related: direct tax, personal tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Tax (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress

    "your constant arguing is starting to tax my patience"

    similar: strain, stretch, test, try
    related: demand, exact, importune, press, pressure, push, aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, exasperate, gall, get (to), gnaw (at), grate, harass, harry, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, pain, peeve, pester, rile, spite, vex

Related Entry: Death tax (noun)

Death tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for death tax, not for tax.

  1. as in estate tax, inheritance tax

    similar: estate tax, inheritance tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, flat tax, proportional tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, direct tax, personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax

Related Entry: Direct tax (noun)

Direct tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for direct tax, not for tax.

  1. as in personal tax

    similar: personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Related Entry: Estate tax (noun)

Estate tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for estate tax, not for tax.

  1. as in inheritance tax, death tax

    similar: death tax, inheritance tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, flat tax, proportional tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, direct tax, personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax

Related Entry: Flat tax (noun)

Flat tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for flat tax, not for tax.

  1. as in proportional tax

    similar: proportional tax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, direct tax, personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax

Related Entry: Hidden tax (noun)

Hidden tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for hidden tax, not for tax.

  1. as in property tax, income tax

    similar: capitation, custom(s), excise, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax, direct tax, personal tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Related Entry: Income tax (noun)

Income tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for income tax, not for tax.

  1. as in property tax, sales tax

    similar: capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax, direct tax, personal tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Related Entry: Inheritance tax (noun)

Inheritance tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for inheritance tax, not for tax.

  1. as in estate tax, death tax

    similar: death tax, estate tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, flat tax, proportional tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, direct tax, personal tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax

Related Entry: Personal tax (noun)

Personal tax is a different word from Tax. The synonyms below are for personal tax, not for tax.

  1. as in direct tax

    similar: direct tax, assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tax

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tax:

assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, strain, stretch, test, try

Related Words for Tax

direct tax, personal tax, capitation, custom(s), excise, hidden tax, income tax, poll tax, property tax, sales tax, single tax, sin tax, tariff, toll, tribute, value-added tax, withholding tax, supertax, surcharge, surtax, death tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, flat tax, proportional tax, demand, exact, importune, press, pressure

Word Forms of Tax

Inflections: taxed, taxing, taxes

Derived words: taxable (adjective), taxer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Tax

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 tangent:2

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Tax

Words & Phrases Containing Tax

tax-, tax base, tax-exempt, tax selling, tax shelter, tax stamp, tax abatement, tax break

Frequently Asked Questions about Tax

What does "Tax" mean?

"Tax" means a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a charge usually of money imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tax"?

Other words for "Tax" include assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, strain, stretch and test. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tax" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tax"?

There are 61 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tax". Common alternatives include assessment, duty, imposition, impost, levy, strain, stretch, test and try.

How do you use "Tax" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tax" in a sentence: "the state sales tax boosted the final cost of my new computer"; "your constant arguing is starting to tax my patience".

Is "Tax" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tax" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Tax" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Tax" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Tax"?

"Tax" is pronounced /ˈtaks/.

What is the origin of the word "Tax"?

"Tax" comes from 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 tangent:2. First known use: 14th century.