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 of write-off

Verb

• dismiss
• minimize
• diminish
• dump on
• run down
• play down
• talk down

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

The White House had been relying on the circa $300 billion a year in revenues to help fund a raft of policies, from tariff rebate checks to corporate tax write-offs in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

Holiday Haunt in order to receive a $30 million tax write-off. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

While the Rangers aren’t about to write off $18 million before the season begins, the runway might not last much beyond his April 21 birthday. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026

As one example, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2016 that the carrier wrote off at least $592 million then. —Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

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