levy
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
Levy, impose, tax, charge, and assess all relate to requiring payment, but differ in scope and formality. Levy specifically refers to an official demand for payment by a government or authority, often tied to a particular purpose such as an environmental or health programme. Impose is broader — any authority can impose rules, fines, or conditions, not just payments. Tax generally describes ongoing, broad-based payments that fund government operations as a whole, rather than a one-off charge. Charge is the most general and informal term, covering any price for a service or penalty. Assess means to calculate or determine an amount, often before collection. For example, a city council might impose new waste regulations and then levy a special fee on plastic bags, assessing each business's usage to set the rate — but it would not call the fee a tax unless the money went into the general budget.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'levy' entered English from Old French 'levée' ('a raising'), which comes from Latin 'levare' ('to raise, lift up'). The core idea was of 'raising' something — whether money or troops. By the late 1400s, it was already used for both 'collecting a tax' (raising money from people) and 'enlisting soldiers' (raising an army).
First known use
13th century
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb