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Meaning & use

duty-free

adjective, noun, adverb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌdjuːti ˈfriː/
US/ˌduːti ˈfriː/

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparable

    Sold without the usual tax on imported goods, so the price is lower for travelers.

    Grammar: Before a noun or after a verb: duty-free perfume; the whisky was duty-free.

    Patterns

    • duty-free goods
    • duty-free allowance

    I bought a duty-free bottle of perfume at the airport.

    The duty-free allowance for tobacco has changed.

    Everything in this shop is duty-free for international travelers.

  2. noununcountableinformal

    A shop, area or goods sold without import tax, especially at an airport or on a ship.

    Grammar: Often used without an article: shopping in duty-free.

    Patterns

    • shop in duty-free
    • buy something in duty-free

    I picked up chocolates in duty-free before boarding.

    The duty-free at this airport is huge.

    She spent the long layover wandering through duty-free.

  3. adverbnot comparable

    Without paying the tax usually charged on imported goods.

    Grammar: Comes after a verb: bring it in duty-free.

    Patterns

    • bring something in duty-free

    You can bring up to one liter of spirits into the country duty-free.

    She imported the machine duty-free as a gift.

    Travelers can buy electronics duty-free on the ship.

Common combinations

duty-free shop
The duty-free shop was crowded with last-minute shoppers.
duty-free allowance
Check your duty-free allowance before you leave.
duty-free goods
Duty-free goods are cheaper because no import tax is added.
duty-free prices
Duty-free prices are not always lower than in town.
buy duty-free
We bought some whisky duty-free at the port.

Synonyms and how they differ

tax-free
Tax-free is broader and covers any tax, while duty-free is specifically about import and excise duties.
untaxed
Untaxed is a general descriptive word and sounds more neutral or formal than duty-free.
exempt
Exempt is more formal and can apply to people or organizations, not only goods.

Opposites

dutiabletaxed

Word family

duty noun
a tax on goods brought into a country; also an obligation
dutiable adjective
subject to a tax on imports
free adjective
without something
duty noun
a tax charged on certain goods

Commonly confused: duty-free or tax-free?

duty-free vs tax-free

Tax-free can mean no tax of any kind is charged, while duty-free refers to the import duty on goods carried across borders.

Practice

Passengers can buy perfume and alcohol at the airport without paying import tax in the ___ shop.

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