charge-off

Or charge·off

[chahrj-awf, -of]

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of charge off¹

charge + (write)-off ( def. )

Idioms and Phrases

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]

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 .

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

Example Sentences

A recent report from the credit rating company Moody’s showed that credit card delinquency rates and charge-off rates, or the percent of loans that a bank believes will never be repaid, are now well above their 2019 levels and are expected to keep climbing.

Read more on Seattle Times

At Synchrony Bank, the largest issuer of retail co-brand credit cards, the charge-off rate jumped from 3.5% to 5.6% in a year.

Read more on Seattle Times

Meanwhile, the charge-off rates and 30-day delinquency rates have climbed.

Read more on Seattle Times

AmEx’s net charge-off rate last quarter was 2%, up from 1.2% a year earlier.

Read more on Seattle Times

The net charge-off rate for loans no longer expected to be repaid fell to 0.19%, the lowest level on record.

Read more on Reuters