write-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīt-ˌȯf 

1

: an elimination of an item from the books of account

2

a

: a reduction in book value of an item (as by way of depreciation)

b

: a tax deduction of an amount of depreciation, expense, or loss

3

chiefly British : something (such as a damaged vehicle) or someone regarded or conceded as a loss

write off

2 of 2

verb

wrote off; written off; writing off; writes off

transitive verb

1

: to eliminate (an asset) from the books : enter as a loss or expense

write off a bad loan

2

: to regard or concede to be lost

most were content to write off 1979 and look optimistically ahead

—Money

also : dismiss

was written off as an expatriate highbrow

—Brendan Gill

Synonyms

Verb

• bad-mouth
• belittle
• cry down
• decry
• denigrate
• deprecate
• depreciate
• derogate
• diminish
• dis [slang]
• diss
• discount
• dismiss
• disparage
• kiss off
• minimize
• play down
• poor-mouth
• put down
• run down
• talk down
• trash
• trash-talk
• vilipend

Examples of write-off in a Sentence

Verb

most critics have already written off that director as a hack incapable of turning out anything but schlock

that one blunder will write off to nothing all the goodwill we've been building up

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And it’s gotten results: A source familiar with the firm’s performance said that Sorenson has zero write-offs to date, and only three companies have ever exited below cost, but capital was still recovered. —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 26 June 2025

Penny Pouncer Retailer executives loathe margin-squeezing sales erosion, markdowns, write-offs and shrink. —Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Verb

Despite Haliburton’s assertion, Indiana was written off as dead. —Shakeia Taylor, New York Times, 20 June 2025

Neither Arizona -- which took down North Carolina in the Chapel Hill Super Regional -- nor Murray State, which upset Duke in the Durham Super Regional, should be written off after both won their super regional matchups as road 'dogs. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for write-off

• cerenkov
• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff

Kids Definition

write off

verb

1

: to take off the books : enter as a loss or expense

write off a bad debt

2

: to consider to be lost

the candidate has already written off some states

also : dismiss sense 3

wrote off my losing as bad luck

Legal Definition

write-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈrīt-ˌȯf

1

: the elimination of an asset or amount due from the books

2

: tax write-off

write off

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to eliminate (an asset) from the books : enter as a loss or expense

write off a bad loan

2

: to use as a deduction in calculating taxable income

write off the cost as a business expense