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• write-off
  write-off

  noun

  a cancellation from the accounts as a loss.
• write off
  write off

  verb

  accounting

write-off

American  

[rahyt-awf, -of] / ˈraɪtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

write-offs plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• write-offs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of write-off

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

write-off write off write-offs

Tessellations offered parents a deal: pay half their tuition as a donation for a tax write-off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

Likewise, Andy’s story starts when a magnate shutters her current job at a newspaper called the New York Vanguard, firing her and her colleagues for a $500-million tax write-off.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026

But Wiegman says England cannot write-off opponents Ukraine and Iceland.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

These come from impairment and write-off losses on assets that were intended to be used for the production of these vehicles, the firm added.

From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 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

Apollo chief economist Torsten Sløk flags this chart that shows how investors shouldn’t write off all software as vulnerable to AI disruption.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

When “Legally Blonde” first came out, I was ready to write off Elle Woods for similar reasons many first- and second-wave feminists dismissed Marilyn Monroe.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

A group of its existing lenders has offered to write off 30% of its near £20bn debt pile and inject billions in new money, but want leniency from future pollution fines in return.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

Maybe we’ll all soon be able to write off our actions up to yesterday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Sometimes kids just have to write off lost articles of clothing at the end of a party.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

The organisation has drawn up a blueprint for manufacturers, with a list of recommendations to keep repairs as simple and affordable as possible and to avoid unnecessary write-offs.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Howell and his worker, then based in Palm Beach, Fla., had inflated their clients’ write-offs and fabricated expenses for years, prosecutors alleged in the indictment.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026

At the same time, they added, the blueprint lacked some of the boldness officials promised, such as corporate tax-rate reductions and aggressive write-offs on productivity-enhancing equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025

GM recently took $1.6 billion in write-offs, reflecting expectations of lower demand and profitability for its EV business.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2025

As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-94.

From The 1996 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• cancel
• give up
• lower