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• write-off
  write-off

  noun

  a cancellation from the accounts as a loss.
• write off
  write off

  verb

  accounting

write-off

American  

[rahyt-awf, -of] / ˈraɪtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

• write-offs
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• write-offs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of write-off

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

write-off write off write-offs

Discovery announced its decision to scrap “Coyote vs. Acme,” opting instead to take a $30-million tax write-off on the hybrid live-action-animation film, actor Will Forte received enthusiastic news about the project.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

UPS later said it would retire its MD-11 fleet and took a $137 million write-off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Taking a write-off for a donation to charity also recently got a little easier.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 11, 2026

Excluding certain items, the metric fell $92.9 million to $327.5 million, partly reflecting a $32.5 million pretax charge related to the write-off of excess raw potatoes in its international segment.

From Barron's ● Apr. 1, 2026

“I’m sure this was just some big tax write-off to him.”

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Bosses and recruiters often write off frequent job hoppers as unreliable flight risks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

The first days of the holiday "have been a complete write off", she added.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

SpaceX is nearly trading back at its initial-public-offering price as recent selling has taken a toll — but experts say not to write off the company just yet.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

When “Legally Blonde” first came out, I was ready to write off Elle Woods for similar reasons many first- and second-wave feminists dismissed Marilyn Monroe.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

Sometimes kids just have to write off lost articles of clothing at the end of a party.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

For instance, the decision allowed Sami to keep certain write-offs, such as most of his car expenses for a chauffeuring service he owns.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

The organisation has drawn up a blueprint for manufacturers, with a list of recommendations to keep repairs as simple and affordable as possible and to avoid unnecessary write-offs.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Congress should make write-offs for investments in structures permanent, too.

From Barron's ● Apr. 17, 2026

Howell and his worker, then based in Palm Beach, Fla., had inflated their clients’ write-offs and fabricated expenses for years, prosecutors alleged in the indictment.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 27, 2026

As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-94.

From The 1996 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

• cancel
• give up
• lower