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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

Wells Fargo CFO Mike Santomassimo: Santomassimo characterized the U.S. consumer as “really good,” noting that the strong delinquency and charge-off performance was “supportive of a good second half of the year.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026

To put the charge-off figures in perspective, the bank’s loan-loss reserves covered 1.09% of total loans and leases as of March 31.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 15, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2025

Zions Bancorp reported a $50 million charge-off Wednesday to cover two loans taken out by borrowers facing legal actions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 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

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

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

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

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