Words / C1

LEV-ee/ˈlevi/

To levy is to impose and collect a tax, charge, or fine officially: levy a tax, a levy on plastic. Charge and tax are everyday nouns; impose is a cousin verb. Levee is a river bank — a lookalike. Do not levy a fee you cannot name in the contract.

Meaning

To officially impose and collect a tax, charge, or fine.

Examples

• “They levied a late fee and still owed a spare invigilator.”
• “Tax and charge are everyday. A levy (noun) is the charge itself. Impose a fine is close. A levee holds a river. A surprise deduction without a clause is not a lawful levy.”

Good to know

Impose (a tax or charge). Noun: a levy. Everyday: tax / charge. Mix-up: levee (river bank). Needs a named legal basis.

Near in meaning

impose

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