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progressive

pruh-GRESS-iv /prəˈɡrɛs.ɪv/

adjectiveB2GRESATIELTS

formalpolitical

Describing a system (especially taxation) where the rate increases as the base amount or income increases, or broader social policies aimed at reform.

In public finance, 'progressive' specifically means higher income earners pay a higher proportion of their income in taxes.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'pro-' (forward) + 'gradi' (to step). Originally referring to advancing physical movement, in economics it came to mean tax schedules that step up incrementally as taxable income ascends.

Word relationships

graduated: 'Graduated' refers specifically to scales or steps (e.g., graduated income tax), whereas 'progressive' also implies ideological orientation towards social improvement.

regressive: A 'regressive' tax places a heavier financial burden on lower earners than on high earners.

Commonly confused with

flat: A 'flat' tax levies the exact same percentage across all income levels, unlike a 'progressive' tax.

Word family

progressively (adverb): Increasingly or by degrees.
progressivism (noun): A political philosophy advocating social reform.

Collocations

progressive tax
progressive policy
progressive reform
progressive system

Idioms & expressions

moving step by step

Example sentences

"A progressive taxation model ensures that high-income earners contribute a larger percentage of their income to public services." Tax policy analysis
"The government introduced a series of progressive social reforms to improve healthcare accessibility." Political science commentary

Memory hook

PROgressing upward in tax steps as income grows. Stepping upward as income increases.

When not to use

Do not use to mean 'rapid' or 'abrupt'.

Fun facts

The United Kingdom implemented one of the earliest modern progressive income taxes in 1799 to fund the Napoleonic Wars.