tariffs

Definition

Government-imposed taxes on imported or exported goods that politicians love to threaten and economists love to debate. They're supposed to protect domestic industries but often just make everything more expensive for consumers. Also used for rate schedules and criminal sentencing guidelines, because one word should definitely mean three different things.

Example Usage

The president announced new tariffs on steel imports, immediately triggering retaliatory measures from trading partners.

Source: Trade law terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

remand

When an appellate court sends a case back to the lower court for further proceedings, essentially telling them 'you messed this up, try again.' It's the judicial equivalent of 'see me after class.'

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

gratuitous

Something given for free without expectation of payment or consideration, though in legal contexts it often implies something done without good reason or justification. It's the difference between a genuine gift and that unnecessary violence in movies your parents complained about. When lawyers use it, they're usually criticizing something as excessive or unwarranted.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

unconstitutional

The legal equivalent of calling something fundamentally illegal because it violates the constitution—the supreme law of the land. When courts declare something unconstitutional, they're basically saying "that law is so wrong it contradicts our most basic principles." It's the ultimate trump card in legal arguments, assuming you can convince judges you're right.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

expropriation

The government's polite way of saying "we're taking your stuff" without adding it to their Amazon cart. This legal process involves seizing private property for public use, typically with compensation that's about as satisfying as finding a parking ticket on your windshield. Popular with governments who believe eminent domain is just aggressive urban planning.

⚖️ Legal

Advanced

interlocutory

A provisional or interim court order issued during litigation before final judgment, essentially a legal 'to be continued.' The judicial version of a cliffhanger.

⚖️ Legal

Intermediate

Precedent

A previous court decision that future judges use to make their decisions, because apparently the legal system works like a game of "well, someone did it this way before." It is basically legal copy-paste.

⚖️ Legal

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See “tariffs” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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