write-off

American  

[rahyt-awf, -of] / ˈraɪtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. a cancellation from the accounts as a loss.

2. an uncollectable account.

3. a reduction in book value; depreciation.

4. Informal. a person or thing that is given up as hopeless or pointless.

   Joe's college career is a write-off.

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write off British  

verb

1. accounting

   1. to cancel (a bad debt or obsolete asset) from the accounts

   2. to consider (a transaction, etc) as a loss or set off (a loss) against revenues

   3. to depreciate (an asset) by periodic charges

   4. to charge (a specified amount) against gross profits as depreciation of an asset

2. to cause or acknowledge the complete loss of

3. to send a written order for (something)

   she wrote off for a brochure

4. informal to damage (something, esp a car) beyond repair

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noun

1. accounting

   1. the act of cancelling a bad debt or obsolete asset from the accounts

   2. the bad debt or obsolete asset cancelled

   3. the amount cancelled against gross profits, corresponding to the book value of the bad debt or obsolete asset

2. informal something damaged beyond repair, esp a car

write off Idioms  

1. Reduce an asset's book value to zero because it is worthless, as in The truck was wrecked completely, so we can write it off . [Late 1600s]

2. Cancel from an account as a loss, as in Since they'll never be able to pay back what they owe, let's just write off that debt . [Late 1800s] Also see charge off , def. 2.

3. Regard as a failure or worthless, as in There was nothing to do but write off the first day of our trip because of the bad weather , or She resented their tendency to write her off as a mere housewife . [Late 1800s]

4. Amortize, as in We can write off the new computer network in two years or less . Also see charge off , def. 2.

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Etymology

Origin of write-off

First recorded in 1745–55; noun use of verb phrase write off

Example Sentences

Taking a write-off for a donation to charity also recently got a little easier.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

In bad news for long-suffering passengers, DB head Evelyn Palla told a press conference that the write-off resulted from expectations of a poor service stretching into the future.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

UPS UPS -0.94%decrease; red down pointing triangle noted the recent quarter included $238 million worth of charges, including a $137 million write-off tied to the retirement of its MD-11 aircraft fleet.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

"I thought this season was a write-off," admitted pundit Steven Thompson at Ibrox.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

Throughout the civilized world, from Battery Park to Fulton Street, he was known as a dependable man for a fast tax write-off.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

Related Words

• cancel
• give up
• lower