DUTY

(TAX) [noun] - a tax paid to the government, esp. on things that you bring into a countryWe had to pay duty on a rug we brought back from India. [U]Returning soldiers have to pay heavy customs duties on tax-free cars bought abroad. [C]There's a high duty on alcohol. [C]Duty-free goods are luxury goods bought in special shops (duty-free shops) in airports, on ships, etc. on which you do not pay government tax.He bought his wife some duty-free perfume.We can buy our duty-frees (= duty-free goods) while we're waiting at the airport.Don't buy whiskey here - you can get it duty-free on the ferry.