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# user fee

phrase (noun phrase, «a user fee», plural «user fees»)

«user fee» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, official, US) a charge that people pay to use a public service, like a park or road; critics say it is a tax with a softer name.

### In the lessons

Governments and councils use «user fee» (or «charge») instead of «tax» because it sounds fair and voluntary: only those who use the service pay. Common in US, Canadian and Australian official language.

### Examples

- (news) The city added a user fee for the swimming pool.
- (debate) "It's not a tax," said the mayor, "it's a user fee."
- (park sign) User fee: $5 per car.
- (opinion) A user fee is just a tax by another name.
- (maths) The user fee is $3 per visit; 12 visits cost $36.
- (chat) they want a user fee for the library now??

### Note

Trap: «fee» = money paid for a service. Politicians may use it to avoid the word «tax». In a maths problem multiply fee × number of uses.