Phrase guide

write off

verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To reduce the book value of (an asset) to zero.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To record (an expenditure) as an expense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To remove a portion of a debt or an amount of an account owed, counting it as a loss (as a gesture of goodwill for example).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To record a notional expense such as amortization or depreciation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To treat as a write-off, a total loss, especially something damaged beyond economic repair.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To assign a low value to (somebody or something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • When Katya was injured, he wrote off the team's chances in the finals.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

reduce the estimated value of something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • For tax purposes you can write off the laser printer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expense, write down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: depreciate

8

verb

Meaning 8

concede the loss or worthlessness of something or somebody

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • write it off as a loss

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: admit, acknowledge

9

verb

Meaning 9

write something fluently, and without hesitation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: write, compose, pen, indite

10

verb

Meaning 10

cancel (a debt)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cancel, strike down

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

38 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: odepsat — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Danish: nedskrive — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Dutch: afschrijven — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Finnish: poistaa — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Finnish: alaskirjata nollaan — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • German: abschreiben — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Polish: odpisywać dług — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Polish: odpisać dług — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Russian: спи́сывать (spísyvatʹ) — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Russian: списа́ть (spisátʹ) — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Swedish: avskriva — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Swedish: skriva av — to reduce an asset's book value to zero
  • Bulgarian: отписвам (otpisvam) — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Dutch: declareren — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Finnish: kirjata kuluksi — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Polish: odpisywać — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Polish: odpisać — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Russian: спи́сывать (spísyvatʹ) — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Russian: списа́ть (spisátʹ) — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Swedish: avskriva — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Swedish: skriva av — to record an expenditure as an expense
  • Finnish: alaskirjata — to record a notional expense
  • Polish: księgować — to record a notional expense
  • Polish: zaksięgować — to record a notional expense
  • Russian: спи́сывать (spísyvatʹ) — to record a notional expense
  • Russian: списа́ть (spisátʹ) — to record a notional expense
  • Swedish: avskriva — to record a notional expense
  • Swedish: skriva av — to record a notional expense
  • Bulgarian: отпи́свам (otpísvam) — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Bulgarian: отпи́ша (otpíša) — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Finnish: alaskirjata — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Italian: dare per perso — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Polish: spisywać na straty — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Polish: spisać na straty — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Polish: stawiać krzyżyk — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Polish: postawić krzyżyk — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Russian: спи́сывать (spísyvatʹ) — to assign a low value to somebody or something
  • Russian: списа́ть (spisátʹ) — to assign a low value to somebody or something