write-off

American  

[rahyt-awf, -of] / ˈraɪtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. a cancellation from the accounts as a loss.

2. an uncollectable account.

3. a reduction in book value; depreciation.

4. Informal. a person or thing that is given up as hopeless or pointless.

   Joe's college career is a write-off.

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write off British  

verb

1. accounting

   1. to cancel (a bad debt or obsolete asset) from the accounts

   2. to consider (a transaction, etc) as a loss or set off (a loss) against revenues

   3. to depreciate (an asset) by periodic charges

   4. to charge (a specified amount) against gross profits as depreciation of an asset

2. to cause or acknowledge the complete loss of

3. to send a written order for (something)

   she wrote off for a brochure

4. informal to damage (something, esp a car) beyond repair

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noun

1. accounting

   1. the act of cancelling a bad debt or obsolete asset from the accounts

   2. the bad debt or obsolete asset cancelled

   3. the amount cancelled against gross profits, corresponding to the book value of the bad debt or obsolete asset

2. informal something damaged beyond repair, esp a car

write off Idioms  

1. Reduce an asset's book value to zero because it is worthless, as in The truck was wrecked completely, so we can write it off . [Late 1600s]

2. Cancel from an account as a loss, as in Since they'll never be able to pay back what they owe, let's just write off that debt . [Late 1800s] Also see charge off , def. 2.

3. Regard as a failure or worthless, as in There was nothing to do but write off the first day of our trip because of the bad weather , or She resented their tendency to write her off as a mere housewife . [Late 1800s]

4. Amortize, as in We can write off the new computer network in two years or less . Also see charge off , def. 2.

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Etymology

Origin of write-off

First recorded in 1745–55; noun use of verb phrase write off

Example Sentences

The collector said more valuable items were in protective acrylic cases but some sustained more damage than others - with about 75% of the stolen goods now a "write-off".

From BBC

No further downside risks are expected after these write-offs, which Tan estimates to be around 10% in book value.

From The Wall Street Journal

In other words, taxes weren’t easy for gamblers already — and now they are getting tougher, blocking even more losses from a write-off.

From MarketWatch

First, the law allowed companies to claim immediate deductions for certain capital investments rather than spreading those write-offs over several years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Stripping out one-time costs, such as the fleet write-off and roughly $100 million in charges tied to the company’s restructuring, earnings were $2.38 a share.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cancel
• give up
• lower