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. )

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Western Alliance said Friday it recorded a charge-off for the full remaining balance of the loan.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the fourth quarter, major issuers reported steady delinquency and charge-off rates alongside continued growth in card spending and transactions.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

“For lenders the increasing availability of online betting markets raises the potential for revolving debt spikes, accelerated defaults, and higher charge-off rates, particularly among subprime borrowers,” the analysts wrote, adding that widespread sports wagering represents “a new risk for lenders, one that they have not had to deal with historically and underwriting models may need to be adapted.”

From Barron's