noncollectible

IPA/nˌɒŋkəlˈɛktɪbəl/
IPA/nˌɑːŋkəlˈɛktᵻbəl/

noncollectible — adjective

  • noncollectiblepositive
  • more noncollectiblecomparative
  • most noncollectiblesuperlative

1. describing money that someone owes but will probably never pay, so the person or

1.adjectiveC2
Definition

describing money that someone owes but will probably never pay, so the person or business waiting for it cannot get it back.

Example

After six unpaid months, the landlord marked the debt as noncollectible.

mark + debt + as noncollectible

The clinic wrote off Roya's old bill as noncollectible.

write off + bill + as noncollectible

Common collocations
  • noncollectible debt
  • noncollectible account
  • noncollectible loan
  • noncollectible fee
  • mark as noncollectible
  • write off as noncollectible
Synonyms
  • uncollectible

    nearly the same meaning, but more common outside formal accounting labels

  • irrecoverable

    broader; can describe any loss that cannot be regained, not just money owed

  • doubtful

    weaker; suggests payment is uncertain, not already treated as beyond recovery

Antonyms
  • collectible

    able to be collected or recovered

  • recoverable

    broad opposite for money or losses that can still be got back

Grammar Patterns

be + noncollectible

mark / classify + debt or account + as noncollectible

become / turn noncollectible

Usage Note

Usually used for debts, loans, bills, fees, and other amounts owed rather than for ordinary physical objects. Common in accounting and business reports, especially after verbs such as mark, classify, call, or write off.

Common Mistakes

The broken chair is noncollectible.
The unpaid bill is noncollectible.
noncollectible usually describes money that cannot be recovered, not an ordinary object.
The customer was noncollectible.
The customer's debt was noncollectible.
the adjective normally describes the amount owed, not the person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Noncollectible' is mainly used in accounting and finance for money that a business no longer expects to receive. 'Uncollectible' is very close in meaning, but it is the more general everyday choice and appears more often outside formal reports. 'Doubtful' is weaker: a doubtful debt may still be paid, while a noncollectible one is treated as not recoverable. 'Irrecoverable' is broader still, because it can describe any loss, damage, or cost that cannot be got back, not only unpaid money.

noncollectible ↗uncollectible ↗doubtful ↗irrecoverable ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • mark as noncollectible
  • classify as noncollectible
  • write off as noncollectible
  • turn noncollectible

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built in English from the negative prefix non- and collectible. It means that something cannot be collected or recovered, and it is especially used for money a person or business no longer expects to receive.