verb

write off

ryte OFF

Write off (verb) means to decide that someone or something is a failure and not worth any further effort or attention. Example: “Don't write him off, he's beaten worse odds.”

verb

To decide that someone or something is a failure and not worth any further effort or attention.

"Don't write him off, he's beaten worse odds."

"Critics wrote the album off after one listen."

To cancel a debt in the accounts, or to record an asset as having lost all its value.

"The bank wrote off two million in bad loans."

"You can write off the equipment against tax over four years."

noun

British A vehicle so badly damaged that repairing it would cost more than it is worth; usually written write-off.

"The insurer declared the car a write-off."

"It was a category B write-off, so it can't go back on the road."

informal A period of time completely wasted or ruined.

"With the boiler broken, the whole weekend was a write-off."

How to use write off

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo give up on something, or to accept a loss and cancel it in the books.

When to use it

The verb is two words (write off); the noun and adjective take a hyphen (a write-off, write-off value). Past tense wrote off, past participle written off. Americans usually say a car has been totalled rather than written off.

Memory tip

In accounting, writing an asset down reduces its recorded value; writing it off removes it entirely.

Easily confused with

write down tax deduction totalled

Common pairings

write off a debt write it off against tax declared a write-off written off as insurance write-off

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Can you complete this real example?

You can _____ the equipment against tax over four years.

Synonyms

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dismiss give up on discount disregard cancel expense charge off total loss totalled car dead loss washout

Antonyms

back rate give a chance

Related words

back down game stop ago front price rate

Rhymes for write off

Geoff takeoff

See all rhymes for write off →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a write-off and a write-down?

A write-down reduces the recorded value of an asset to a lower but still positive figure. A write-off takes it to zero, treating it as worthless or uncollectable. A write-off is the extreme case of a write-down.

What does it mean when a car is written off?

The insurer has judged that repairs would cost more than the car is worth, or that it is unsafe to repair. They pay out its market value and take ownership; UK write-offs are graded into categories that determine whether the car can ever be driven again.

Does writing something off against tax mean it is free?

No. A write-off reduces your taxable profit, so you save only your tax rate on the amount spent. Spending a pound to save perhaps twenty pence of tax still costs you eighty pence.

What is the meaning of write off?

"write off" (verb) means to decide that someone or something is a failure and not worth any further effort or attention.

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