duty-free

adjective or adverb

ˌdü-tē-ˈfrē How to pronounce duty-free (audio)
ˌdyü-,
ˈd(y)ü-tē-ˌfrē
1
: without payment of customs duties : free from duties
imported duty-free
duty-free goods
2
: relating to or selling duty-free goods
a duty-free shop

Examples of duty-free in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Manufacturers utilize trade deals like the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which facilitates duty-free commerce. Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2024 The donor, Rasoul Khaledi, owns a chain of duty-free stores along the Mexican border, including in Laredo, as well as two elsewhere in Mexico. Kitty Bennett, New York Times, 13 May 2024 Sephora helped drive a 76% profit rise in the selective retailing segment, which includes duty-free shops, and raked in €17.9 billion ($19.4 billion) in sales last year. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 25 Apr. 2024 The Biden administration also issued a business advisory for Uganda and removed the country from a special program that allows African products duty-free access to the United States. Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024 Today, duty-free is a fundamental channel for luxury goods worldwide: In 2023, Dubai Duty Free, the largest operation of its kind in the world by sales, hit revenues of $2.16 billion. The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024 Temu’s cheaper offerings have also led to lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to crack down on the number of packages from China that enter the country duty-free. Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 21 Mar. 2024 The loophole allows $800 worth of parcels to be imported into the U.S. duty-free per person per day. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 5 Mar. 2024 The answer has much to do with a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which allows parcels valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free per person per day. Didi Tang, Fortune Asia, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'duty-free.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of duty-free was in 1689

Dictionary Entries Near duty-free

Cite this Entry

“Duty-free.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duty-free. Accessed 28 May. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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