See also: writeoff and write off

English

edit

Alternative forms

edit

Etymology

edit

Deverbal from write off.

Noun

edit

write-off (plural write-offs)

  1. (accounting) The cancellation of an item; the amount cancelled or lost.
    Coordinate terms: writedown, write-down
  2. Something that is now worthless (such as a car after an accident).
    Synonym: total loss

Usage notes

edit
  • This form is about as common as "writeoff" in usage as a noun.

Translations

edit

Verb

edit

write-off (third-person singular simple present writes-off, present participle writing-off, simple past wrote-off, past participle written-off)

  1. Nonstandard form of write off.
    • 2000, Roy L. Nersesian, Trends and Tools for Operations Management, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 80:
      If you are eager to manufacture the recharging unit, the analyst will be tempted to write-off the equipment over its physical life and provide you with a lower breakeven volume. If you prefer to outsource, the analyst will be tempted to write-off the equipment over its tax life and provide you with a higher breakeven volume.
    • 2005, OECD Economic Surveys, Volume 2005/13 (September 2005): China, OECD Publishing, →ISBN, page 146:
      This has spurred major efforts to write-off loans by the two pilot banks and considerable progress at the largest of the SOCBs (the ICBC).
    • 2007, Ganapathy Palanithurai et al., A Handbook for Panchayati Raj Administration (Tamil Nadu), Concept Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 58:
      Provided that where the Collector or any of his subordinates is responsible for the collection of any tax, [] the power to write-off such tax, [] on the ground of its being irrecoverable, shall be exercised by the Commissioner of Land Administration []