charge-off
noun
a write-off, especially of a bad loan by a bank.
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charge-off
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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
charge off
Idioms
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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]
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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 .
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Attribute to, blame something for, as in We can charge off these errors to inexperience .
Etymology
Origin of charge-off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
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
Chief Executive Harris Simmons said Monday that results were “marred” by a $50 million charge-off that the company disclosed last week to cover two loans taken out by borrowers facing fraud allegations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
Zions Bancorp incurred a $50 million charge-off in the third quarter due to legal actions against two borrowers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025
Zions Bancorp will record following a $50 million charge-off related to legal actions against borrowers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2025
Western Alliance said it would charge off $126.4 million on the loan, out of the $337 million initially borrowed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
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
Payne led the charge off the bench while shooting 9 of 14 with four 3-pointers.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 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
“Can I get a charge off your computer BTW?”
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
