single tax: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (extremely rare in general usage)Technical, academic, historical (economics/political theory)
Quick answer
What does “single tax” mean?
A system of taxation where all government revenue is derived from one tax, typically on land value.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system of taxation where all government revenue is derived from one tax, typically on land value.
A fiscal policy proposal advocated by Henry George and others that seeks to replace all other taxes with a levy on the unimproved value of land.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; concept is known primarily in academic/political theory circles in both regions.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of historical economic reform movements (late 19th/early 20th century) and radical tax policy proposals.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American English; slightly more historical recognition in US due to Henry George's prominence.
Grammar
How to Use “single tax” in a Sentence
advocate for [the] single taxpropose [a] single tax [system]oppose [the] single taxVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “single tax” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The movement sought to single-tax land values exclusively.
- They proposed to single-tax unimproved property.
American English
- The platform called to single-tax economic rent.
- Georgists want to single-tax natural resource values.
adverb
British English
- The system would operate single-taxedly, replacing all other levies.
- They proposed funding government single-taxedly.
American English
- The municipality experimented with taxing single-taxedly for a brief period.
- He argued the economy could function single-taxedly.
adjective
British English
- The single-tax proposal attracted much debate.
- He was a single-tax campaigner in the 1880s.
American English
- The single-tax movement had significant early support.
- She wrote about single-tax theory in her thesis.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in contemporary business contexts.
Academic
Appears in economic history, political theory, or heterodox economics papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only appear in discussions of historical economic movements.
Technical
Used precisely in Georgist economic literature to describe the specific policy proposal.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “single tax”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “single tax”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “single tax”
- Confusing with 'flat tax' (different concept)
- Using as general term for any simple tax system
- Treating as contemporary rather than historical/ theoretical
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A flat tax applies one rate to all income, while the single tax specifically targets land value and aims to replace all other taxes.
No country has fully adopted it, though elements influenced some local tax policies and there were historical political movements supporting it.
Henry George popularized and systematically argued for this concept in his 1879 book 'Progress and Poverty', making it central to Georgist economics.
It is primarily of historical and theoretical interest today, though some heterodox economists and land value tax advocates reference its principles.
A system of taxation where all government revenue is derived from one tax, typically on land value.
Single tax is usually technical, academic, historical (economics/political theory) in register.
Single tax: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋɡəl ˈtæks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪŋɡəl ˈtæks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms containing 'single tax'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SINGLE tax = ONE tax to replace them ALL (like a single ring in Tolkien's works).
Conceptual Metaphor
TAXATION AS FOUNDATION (the single tax as the sole base of government revenue).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of the single tax as proposed by Henry George?