write-down

American  

[rahyt-doun] / ˈraɪtˌdaʊn /

noun

Accounting.

1. a reduction of the entered value of an asset account.

2. the procedure of reducing the recorded value of an asset, either by estimate or as a plan.

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write down British  

verb

1. (tr) to set down in writing

2. (tr) to harm or belittle by writing about (a person) in derogatory terms

3. (intr; foll by to or for) to write in a simplified way (to a supposedly less cultured readership)

4. (tr) accounting to decrease the book value of (an asset)

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noun

1. accounting a reduction made in the book value of an asset

write down Idioms  

1. Set down in writing, record, as in Please write down your new address and phone number . [Late 1500s]

2. Reduce in rank, value, or price, as in They've written down their assets . [Late 1800s]

3. Write in a simple or condescending style, as in These science texts are written down for high-school students . [Second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of write-down

First recorded in 1930–35; noun use of verb phrase write down

Example Sentences

The London-listed miner warned earlier this month that it was undertaking a review of the business that could lead to the write-down.

From The Wall Street Journal

Things were looking better, with shares stable under Filosa, until the write-downs and dividend cut.

From Barron's

One-time events can affect companies’ bottom lines, but gross profit margins and operating margins will exclude some of those extraordinary items, such as goodwill write-downs or restructuring charges.

From MarketWatch

A publicly traded BlackRock fund that invests in private credit surprised investors when it disclosed a 19% write-down on its holdings recently, blaming poor performance in the fourth quarter.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company said it would launch a buyback of 500 million euros in the first quarter and book a noncash write-down of around 1.9 billion euros before taxes in its 2025 result.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• address
• compose
• create
• draft
• note
• pen
• print
• record
• rewrite
• scrawl
• scribble
• sign
• tell