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• charge-off
  charge-off

  noun

  a write-off, especially of a bad loan by a bank.
• charge off
  charge off

  Hurriedly depart, run away, as in After a few minutes, she charged off to the next exhibit . This term alludes to the military meaning of charge , “attack impetuously.” [Early 1500s]

charge-off

American  

[chahrj-awf, -of] / ˈtʃɑrdʒˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

Or chargeoff

noun

1. a write-off, especially of a bad loan by a bank.

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charge off Idioms  

1. Hurriedly depart, run away, as in After a few minutes, she charged off to the next exhibit . This term alludes to the military meaning of charge , “attack impetuously.” [Early 1500s]

2. Also, charge against . Consider or count as an accounting loss or expense, as in I'm charging off this purchase to overhead , or Let's charge the new computer against office supplies . [Late 1800s] Also see write off .

3. Attribute to, blame something for, as in We can charge off these errors to inexperience .

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Etymology

Origin of charge-off

charge + (write)-off ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

charge-off charge off

For consumer and mortgage loans, banks add to reserves based on anticipated charge-off rates.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026

The regional bank says it will charge-off the loan as fears mount in the world of private credit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026

It forecast net interest income of $103 billion and adjusted expenses of $105 billion for 2026, and a net charge-off rate of 3.4% in credit cards.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 13, 2026

And it seeks a net charge-off rate of 0.5% to 0.55% through the cycle.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2025

The Salt Lake City bank said last week that borrowers of two loans were in legal proceedings related to fraud allegations, which prompted it to take the charge-off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025

Most charge off as if the race is only one lap, rather than the 527 that the eventual winner completes.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2024

You can charge off a laptop if you have one.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2021

The former Ohio State head coach said he also witnessed Brady take charge off the field – something he believes sets him apart from the rest.

From Fox News ● Mar. 30, 2021

“You’ve taken the charge off the table, so neither the jury nor the judge has the right to impose it.”

From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2018

“Can I get a charge off your computer BTW?”

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

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