write-off

[rahyt-awf, -of]

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.

write off

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of write-off¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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]

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.

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]

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

Example Sentences

Republicans made reversing that feature a priority in 2025, and this year’s tax law brought back immediate write-offs for research going forward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The publisher had a $13 million write-off related to the closure of one of its distributors.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, they added, the blueprint lacked some of the boldness officials promised, such as corporate tax-rate reductions and aggressive write-offs on productivity-enhancing equipment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

GM recently took $1.6 billion in write-offs, reflecting expectations of lower demand and profitability for its EV business.

Read more on Barron's

The bank said the write-off was an integral part of the acquisition and that, in UBS’s view, it complied with both contractual terms and Swiss law.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cancel 
• give up 
• lower