excise
C1Formal, Technical (Taxation), Medical/Surgical
Definition
Meaning
An indirect tax levied on certain goods, especially manufactured goods, or on licenses for certain activities.
The verb meaning to remove something by cutting it out, often in a precise or formal manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A true homograph with two distinct etymologies and meanings. The noun (tax) and verb (to cut out) are unrelated in origin and usage, creating potential for confusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun (tax) is used identically. For the verb, 'excise' is standard in both, but 'cut out' or 'remove' is more common in everyday speech.
Connotations
The noun has strong bureaucratic/governmental connotations. The verb carries connotations of precision, surgery, and deliberate removal.
Frequency
The noun is significantly more frequent in general usage than the verb. Both are more common in formal or technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
excise + [Noun Phrase] (e.g., excise the tumour)excise + [Noun Phrase] + from + [Noun Phrase] (e.g., excise a paragraph from the report)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The long arm of the excise (humorous for tax authorities)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to government taxes on specific products like fuel, alcohol, and tobacco, impacting pricing and supply chains.
Academic
Used in economics, law, and history papers discussing taxation policy and state revenue.
Everyday
Rare. Mostly encountered on receipts for fuel or alcohol ('includes excise duty').
Technical
In medicine/surgery: the precise removal of tissue; in editing: the removal of text or data.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The surgeon needed to excise the damaged tissue completely.
- The editor decided to excise the controversial chapter before publication.
American English
- The doctor will excise the mole during the outpatient procedure.
- The censor sought to excise all references to the security breach from the document.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The price of petrol includes excise duty.
- They had to pay excise on the imported wine.
- The government raised the excise on tobacco to discourage smoking.
- The journalist was forced to excise several key names from her article for legal reasons.
- Excise revenues form a significant but politically sensitive part of the national budget.
- The pathologist will excise a sample of the lesion for further histological analysis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the noun EXCISE: EXtra Charge Imposed on Something Essential (like fuel). For the verb: EXCISE: EXtract with surgical preCISEion.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A BODY COLLECTING SUSTENANCE (excise as a tax). EDITING/SURGERY IS SCULPTING (excise as removing material to shape).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'экскаватор' (excavator).
- The noun 'excise' is 'акциз' (aktsiz) in Russian, a direct cognate.
- The verb 'excise' is 'вырезать' (vyrezat') or 'удалять' (udaljat'), not related to 'акциз'.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing the verb with the stress on the first syllable like the noun.
- Using 'excise' (verb) where 'erase' or 'delete' (for non-physical things) is more natural.
- Confusing which meaning is intended in a given context.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'excise' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are complete homographs from different roots. The tax comes from Dutch 'accijns'. The verb comes from Latin 'excisus', past participle of 'excidere' (to cut out).
The noun (tax) is encountered more frequently in general news, business, and daily life (e.g., on receipts). The verb is more specialised, used in medical, editorial, or formal contexts.
For the NOUN (tax), stress the first syllable: EX-cise. For the VERB (to cut out), stress the second syllable: ex-CISE. This distinction is clearer in British English; in American English, the verb may start with a more reduced vowel.
Yes, but it's formal. You can 'excise a memory from one's mind' or 'excise corruption from the system,' implying a deliberate, surgical, and complete removal.