Levee vs. Levy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 21, 2024
A levee is an embankment built to prevent river floods, whereas a levy is a charge imposed by a government or authority.
Difference Between Levee and Levy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A levee is primarily a physical structure designed to prevent overflow of rivers or seas, often made from earth or stone. On the other hand, a levy is a financial charge or tax imposed by a governmental body, used to fund various public expenditures.
The construction of levees is critical in areas prone to flooding, helping to protect lands and properties from water damage. In contrast, the imposition of levies is a method of raising revenue, which governments use to finance everything from infrastructure projects to public services.
Levees are maintained by local or federal agencies that specialize in environmental and water management. Whereas, levies are collected by tax authorities or specific governmental agencies responsible for fiscal policy.
The effectiveness of a levee depends on its engineering, maintenance, and the severity of the water flow it needs to contain. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of a levy depends on the economic structure, compliance of the taxpayers, and the efficiency of the collection process.
Communities relying on levees often engage in regular maintenance and upgrades to cope with changing environmental conditions. Levy rates, however, can be adjusted based on economic conditions, political priorities, or social needs, reflecting a dynamic approach to fiscal policy.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
An embankment to prevent floods
A tax or charge imposed by authority
Purpose
Flood prevention and land protection
Revenue generation for public expenditures
Managed by
Environmental and water management agencies
Tax authorities and government bodies
Dependency
Engineering and maintenance
Tax laws and economic policy
Adjustment Factors
Environmental changes and flood risk
Economic conditions, political decisions
Compare with Definitions
Levee
A natural or artificial slope or wall to regulate water levels.
The ancient levees were crucial for agricultural irrigation.
Levy
The act of enlisting troops or raising an army.
The historical levy of troops was often sudden and without notice.
Levee
An embankment built along rivers to prevent flooding.
The levee along the Mississippi River saved numerous towns from flooding.
Levy
The amount owed as part of a tax or fee.
The annual levy for the club membership has increased.
Levee
Structures that control water flow and prevent inundation of adjacent land.
Local farmers rely on the levee to protect their cropland.
Levy
An imposition of a tax, fee, or fine.
The government decided to levy a new tax on luxury goods.
Levee
Raised paths or roads along the edge of a body of water.
We walked along the levee to enjoy the sunset by the lakeside.
Levy
A legal seizure of property to satisfy a debt.
The court ordered a levy on the company's assets.
Levee
A ridge of sediment deposited naturally alongside a river by overflowing water.
Sediment levees are visible along the riverbank after the heavy rains.
Levy
To impose (a tax) by legal authority.
The city council voted to levy a congestion charge.
Levee
A levee (), dike (American English), dyke (Commonwealth English), embankment, floodbank, or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall that regulates water levels. It is usually earthen and often parallel to the course of a river in its floodplain or along low-lying coastlines.
Levy
Impose (a tax, fee, or fine)
A tax of two per cent was levied on all cargoes
Levee
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.
Levy
Enlist (someone) for military service
He sought to levy one man from each vill for service
Levee
A formal reception of visitors or guests
The great stop on the Washington social circuit was the diplomat's levee
Levy
An act of levying a tax, fee, or fine
Police forces receive 49 per cent of their funding via a levy on the rates
Levee
An embankment raised to prevent a river from overflowing.
Levy
An act of enlisting troops
Edward I and Edward II had made substantial use of the feudal levy for raising an army
Levee
A small ridge or raised area bordering an irrigated field.
Levy
To impose (a tax or fine, for example) on someone.
Levee
A landing place on a river; a pier.
Levy
To impose a tax, fine, or other punishment on (a person or business).
Levee
A reception held, as by royalty, upon arising from bed.
Levy
To enlist or conscript into military service
Levy recruits.
Levee
A formal reception, as at a royal court.
Levy
To declare and wage (a war).
Levee
To provide with a levee.
Levy
To confiscate property, especially in accordance with a legal judgment.
Levee
An elevated geographical feature.
Levy
The act or process of levying.
Levee
An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi.
Levy
Money, property, or troops levied.
Levee
(US) The steep bank of a river.
Levy
To impose (a tax or fine) to collect monies due, or to confiscate property.
To levy a tax
Levee
(US) The border of an irrigated field.
Levy
To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority.
Levee
(US) A pier or other landing place on a river.
Levy
To draft someone into military service.
Levee
(obsolete) The act of rising; getting up, especially in the morning after rest.
Levy
To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription. etc.
Levee
A reception of visitors held after getting up.
Levy
To wage war.
Levee
A formal reception, especially one given by royalty or other leaders.
Levy
To raise, as a siege.
Levee
To keep within a channel by means of levees.
To levee a river
Levy
(legal) To erect, build, or set up; to make or construct; to raise or cast up.
Levee
(transitive) To attend the levee or levees of.
Levy
The act of levying.
Levee
The act of rising.
Levy
The tax, property or people so levied.
Levee
A morning assembly or reception of visitors, - in distinction from a soirée, or evening assembly; a matinée; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, whether in the daytime or evening; as, the president's levee.
Levy
The Spanish real of one eighth of a dollar, valued at elevenpence when the dollar was rated at seven shillings and sixpence.
Levee
An embankment to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi; sometimes, the steep bank of a river.
Levy
A name formerly given in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia to the Spanish real of one eighth of a dollar (or 12½ cents), valued at eleven pence when the dollar was rated at 7s. 6d.
Levee
To attend the levee or levees of.
He levees all the great.
Levy
The act of levying or collecting by authority; as, the levy of troops, taxes, etc.
A levy of all the men left under sixty.
Levee
To keep within a channel by means of levees; as, to levee a river.
Levy
That which is levied, as an army, force, tribute, etc.
Levee
A barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea
Levy
The taking or seizure of property on executions to satisfy judgments, or on warrants for the collection of taxes; a collecting by execution.
Levy
To raise, as a siege.
Levy
To raise; to collect; said of troops, to form into an army by enrollment, conscription, etc.
Augustine . . . inflamed Ethelbert, king of Kent, to levy his power, and to war against them.
Levy
To raise or collect by assessment; to exact by authority; as, to levy taxes, toll, tribute, or contributions.
If they do this . . . my ransom, then,Will soon be levied.
Levy
To gather or exact; as, to levy money.
Levy
To seize property, real or personal, or subject it to the operation of an execution; to make a levy; as, to levy on property; the usual mode of levying, in England, is by seizing the goods.
Levy
A charge imposed and collected
Levy
The act of drafting into military service
Levy
Impose and collect;
Levy a fine
Levy
Cause to assemble or enlist in the military;
Raise an army
Recruit new soldiers
Common Curiosities
How is a levy typically used by governments?
Governments use levies to collect funds necessary for public services and infrastructure.
What types of levies are there?
There are various types of levies, including taxes, duties, and fees.
Who maintains levees?
Levees are maintained by local or federal agencies that specialize in environmental protection and water management.
What materials are used to build levees?
Levees are commonly made from earth, stones, and sometimes concrete or metal.
What is the main function of a levee?
A levee is designed to prevent water from flooding the land beside a river or sea.
Can individuals propose changes to a levee design?
Typically, levee designs are managed by expert agencies, but public input can be considered during planning stages.
How often are levy rates changed?
Levy rates can change based on legislative decisions, often influenced by economic conditions and policy needs.
Can a levee fail?
Yes, if not properly maintained or overwhelmed by water, levees can fail, leading to catastrophic flooding.
Is there a legal implication to not paying levies?
Non-payment of levies can lead to legal consequences, including fines or property seizure.
What happens if a levy is not collected efficiently?
Inefficient collection of levies can lead to budget deficits and reduced public services.
What is the difference in impact between a levee and a levy?
A levee directly impacts land and water management, while a levy impacts economic conditions and public finance.
Are levies applied equally to everyone?
Levies can vary, often designed to be progressive, affecting higher income earners more significantly.
Can levees also be used for recreation?
Yes, levees can provide recreational spaces such as paths for walking or cycling.
Who decides the rate of a levy?
Levy rates are typically set by government bodies, often influenced by economic strategies and fiscal needs.
How do communities benefit from levees?
Communities benefit from levees through enhanced safety from flood risks and potential property damage reduction.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
