write-off
write-off — noun
1. a stretch of hours or days during which nothing useful gets done and no progress
a stretch of hours or days during which nothing useful gets done and no progress is made
Monday was a complete write-off because the office had no electricity until noon.
collocation: complete write-off
After catching the flu, Hao considered the whole week a write-off for studying.
informal register: whole week a write-off
The project meeting was a write-off — nobody had prepared any data.
Saturday was a write-off for the family picnic because heavy rain flooded the park.
- complete write-off
- total write-off
- be a write-off
- consider something a write-off
- waste
more general; 'waste of time' is the common phrase
- lost cause
can refer to a person or situation, not just a time period
- productive time
opposite concept, but not a single-word antonym
Grammar Patterns
a write-off
be a write-off
Usage Note
Common in informal spoken English. Often used with 'complete' or 'total' for emphasis. The subject is typically a day, week, meeting, or similar time block.
Common Mistakes
2. a car or other vehicle that has been damaged so severely that repairing it would
a car or other vehicle that has been damaged so severely that repairing it would cost more than buying a new one
After the crash on the motorway, the insurance company declared Christopher's car a total write-off.
collocation: declare something a (total) write-off
The mechanic told Élise that her scooter was a write-off and not worth fixing.
In the storm, a large branch fell on Asher's van and turned it into a complete write-off.
collocation: turn into a write-off
The dealer sold the damaged van at auction as a write-off for spare parts.
- total write-off
- complete write-off
- declare something a write-off
- be written off (as a write-off)
- total loss
the formal insurance term; more neutral in register
- wreck
more general; can describe any severely damaged vehicle, not necessarily an insurance classification
- scrap
focuses on the vehicle's value as recycled metal only
Grammar Patterns
a write-off
declare something a write-off
Usage Note
A common term in British English for insurance and automotive contexts. In American English, 'totaled' (or 'total loss') is more common. Insurance companies often categorize write-offs into different classes depending on the extent of damage.
Common Mistakes
3. a person, project, or thing that is considered a complete failure with no chance
a person, project, or thing that is considered a complete failure with no chance of recovery or improvement
The director admitted that the first version of the film was a write-off and refused to release it.
After three failed rounds of funding, the startup was treated as a write-off by most investors.
collocation: treat something as a write-off
Brooke's first attempt at baking a three-layer cake was a write-off — it collapsed right out of the oven.
The software project became a write-off after the lead developer quit and took the source code.
- consider something a write-off
- treat something as a write-off
- be a write-off
- failure
more direct and common; write-off implies finality and that no further effort is worth investing
- lost cause
similar meaning; suggests the outcome is already determined
Grammar Patterns
a write-off
treat someone/something as a write-off
Usage Note
Extends from the vehicle sense to people and projects. Often carries a dismissive or resigned tone. The phrasal verb 'write someone off' can be used similarly.
4. the formal removal of a debt or worthless asset from a company's financial recor
the formal removal of a debt or worthless asset from a company's financial records because it will never be paid or has no recoverable value
The bank approved a write-off of all unpaid loans from the failed restaurant chain.
collocation: write-off of [debt/loan]
The accountant recorded a write-off for the inventory that had expired in the warehouse.
Without a write-off on the balance sheet, Indra argued the company would appear more profitable than it really was.
domain: balance sheet terminology
The accountant prepared a quarterly report listing all approved write-offs for bad debts.
- write-off of debt
- bad debt write-off
- loan write-off
- tax write-off
- cancellation (of debt)
more general term
- charge-off
specific banking term for unrecoverable debt
- collection
when a debt is successfully recovered
Grammar Patterns
a write-off
write-off of [something]
Usage Note
Formal accounting term. A write-off reduces taxable income and is recorded as an expense. Distinguish from a 'write-down', which only reduces the recorded value rather than removing it entirely.
Common Mistakes
5. an amount that a business or individual can legally subtract from their taxable
an amount that a business or individual can legally subtract from their taxable income to reduce the total tax they owe
Gabriela claimed a tax write-off for the new X-ray machine she bought for her dental clinic.
collocation: claim a tax write-off
Donating old office furniture to a registered charity gives the company a useful tax write-off.
The freelance designer keeps every receipt so she can maximize her write-offs when tax season arrives.
informal usage: tax write-offs
Start-up companies often use their research costs as a tax write-off in the early years.
- tax write-off
- claim something as a write-off
- business write-off
- charitable write-off
- tax deduction
the formal term; preferred in professional tax contexts
- tax relief
broader term; can include credits and allowances
- tax liability
the amount of tax owed before deductions
Grammar Patterns
a write-off
claim something as a write-off
Usage Note
Often called a 'tax write-off' in everyday language. The formal accounting term is 'tax deduction'. Different tax jurisdictions have different rules about what qualifies.
Common Mistakes
write-off — phrasal verb
- write-offbase form
- write-offs3rd person singular
- write-offing-ing form
- write-offedpast simple
1. to send a postal letter requesting a catalogue, information, a free sample, or s
to send a postal letter requesting a catalogue, information, a free sample, or similar item from a company or institution
Pedro wrote off to the university for a copy of the course catalogue.
pattern: wrote off to [organization] for [item]
Thousands of fans wrote off for concert tickets, but the show sold out in minutes.
After seeing the advertisement, Nila wrote off for a free sample of the new skin cream.
pattern: write off for [item]
Yan wrote off to the tourist board for a map of the hiking trails.
- write off for a catalogue
- write off for information
- write off for a sample
- write off to a company
- send away for
more common in American English; similar meaning
Grammar Patterns
write off for [something]
write off to [organization]
Usage Note
This sense is primarily British English and is now relatively old-fashioned — most people use email or web forms today. The particle 'off' here carries no sense of cancellation; it simply marks the act of sending a letter.
Common Mistakes
2. to officially cancel a debt or accept in financial records that money owed will
to officially cancel a debt or accept in financial records that money owed will never be repaid
The charity decided to write off the loans it had made to the struggling village cooperative.
collocation: write off loans/debt
The bank wrote off nearly two million dollars in bad debts during the last financial quarter.
After the borrower declared bankruptcy, the lender had no choice but to write the debt off.
separable: write [debt] off
The government agreed to write off the small loans that farmers could not repay after the drought.
- write off a debt
- write off a loan
- bad debt write-off
- write something off
- cancel
more general; doesn't carry the accounting/formal register
- forgive (a debt)
implies a voluntary decision by the lender
- collect
to successfully recover the money owed
Grammar Patterns
write off [debt]
write [debt] off
Usage Note
For nouns that are short (like 'it' or 'debt'), the separable form 'write it off' is more natural than 'write off it'. For longer noun phrases, both orders work, but 'write off the enormous debt' is more common. Distinct from the verb sense REMOVE FROM ACCOUNTS (verb/1), which applies to any asset (equipment, inventory, goodwill), not just debts.
Common Mistakes
3. to damage a vehicle so severely that repairing it would be more expensive than r
to damage a vehicle so severely that repairing it would be more expensive than replacing it
Tendai wrote off his father's car when he skidded on an icy road and hit a tree.
active: write off [vehicle]
The delivery van was written off in a collision with a lorry on the motorway.
passive: be written off
After inspecting Nkechi's damaged hatchback, the insurance assessor classified it as written off.
Mayumi's brother wrote off his motorcycle when he hit a deer on the country road.
- write off a car
- write off a vehicle
- be written off
- write something off in an accident
Grammar Patterns
write off [vehicle]
be written off
Usage Note
Very common in British English. In American English, 'total' (verb) is the equivalent — 'He totaled his car'. When used in the passive, 'written off' functions almost as an adjective.
Common Mistakes
4. to conclude that a person or thing has no chance of succeeding and to stop inves
to conclude that a person or thing has no chance of succeeding and to stop investing any time or energy in them
The coach wrote off the young player after just one bad game, which seemed unfair to the team.
pattern: write off [someone] after [event]
Eli's teachers had written him off as lazy, but he surprised everyone by passing the exam with top marks.
pattern: write [someone] off as [adjective]
The committee wrote off Vivek's rooftop solar proposal as unconventional, but the engineering report proved it viable.
The critics wrote off Greta after her first album flopped, but she rose to fame with her second release.
- write someone off
- write something off
- write someone off as
- be written off as
- dismiss
more neutral; 'write off' carries a stronger sense of finality
- give up on
focuses on the effort being abandoned rather than the judgement
- believe in
to continue to support someone despite difficulties
Grammar Patterns
write off [someone/something]
write [someone/something] off as [adjective/noun]
Usage Note
Often followed by 'as' to specify the judgement ('write someone off as stupid / lazy / a lost cause'). The passive form 'be written off' is also common. This sense can sound dismissive or harsh. Distinguish from the verb sense CONCEDE AS LOST (verb/2), which refers to accepting concrete physical loss (a missing item, a ruined object) rather than forming a judgement about potential.
Common Mistakes
write-off — verb
- write-offpresent simple I / you / we / they
- write-offs3rd person singular
- write-offing-ing form
- write-offedpast simple
1. to formally take an asset or debt off a company's financial records, treating it
to formally take an asset or debt off a company's financial records, treating its value as money that has been lost or spent
The company wrote off the old printing press as a loss after purchasing a digital model.
pattern: write off [asset] as [expense]
The accountant advised the business to write off the unsold inventory at the end of the financial year.
Tax regulations allow small businesses to write off the full cost of new computers in the first year of purchase.
domain: tax regulations
The university wrote off the outdated laboratory equipment as a loss and ordered new instruments.
- write off an asset
- write off a loss
- write something off as an expense
- charge off
specific banking term for debts
- depreciate
spreads the reduction over time rather than removing all at once
- capitalize
to record a cost as an asset rather than an expense
Grammar Patterns
write off [asset/expense]
write [asset] off as [loss/expense]
Usage Note
Applies to ANY asset (equipment, inventory, goodwill, machinery, vehicles) on a company's financial records. Unlike the phrasal verb sense 2 (CANCEL DEBT), which is debt-specific, this verb covers tangible and intangible assets beyond loans and receivables.
Common Mistakes
2. to accept that someone or something is physically lost, destroyed, or gone beyon
to accept that someone or something is physically lost, destroyed, or gone beyond recovery — such as a missing item, a lost person, or ruined property
After the ship failed to send any signal for three weeks, the rescue team wrote it off as lost.
Dr. Patel wrote off Chen Wei's chances of walking again after the severe spinal injury.
collocation: write off chances of recovery
Ayesha wrote off her missing passport as gone for good and immediately applied for a new one.
After the laptop fell into the lake, Olivia wrote it off as completely ruined.
- write something off as lost
- write off chances of
- write off [something] as gone
- give up on
less formal; implies effort was being made
- abandon
stronger; suggests stopping all efforts completely
- hold out hope for
opposite of giving up on recovery
Grammar Patterns
write off [someone/something] as [adjective]
write off [someone/something]
Usage Note
Only for concrete, physical loss — things that are gone, destroyed, or unrecoverable (lost luggage, missing people, ruined items). Distinguish from the phrasal verb sense 4 (DISMISS AS HOPELESS), which involves judging a person or an idea as not worth attention rather than acknowledging physical loss.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All four terms describe a vehicle that has been badly damaged, but they differ in register and technical use. 'Write-off' is the standard British English term used by insurers and mechanics to mean a vehicle too damaged to repair economically — it is both everyday and semi-technical. 'Total loss' is the formal insurance-industry equivalent used in policy documents and claims forms; in American English it replaces 'write-off' entirely. 'Wreck' is an informal, general-purpose word for any severely damaged car — you might say 'the car was a wreck after the accident' without referring to the insurance classification. 'Scrap' focuses on the vehicle's value as recycled metal: a 'write-off' may be sold for 'scrap', but 'scrap' itself does not carry the insurance or accounting meaning. A mechanic might say 'this car is a write-off' (insurance will not pay for repairs); the same mechanic might say 'this car is scrap' (its only value is the metal). Choose 'write-off' or 'total loss' when the insurance/repair-cost classification matters; use 'wreck' for informal descriptions of damage; use 'scrap' when the car is only worth its materials.
Common collocations
Etymology
The term comes from accounting in the 1700s, when bookkeepers would literally 'write off' a debt by crossing it out of the ledger. 'Write' comes from Old English 'writan' (to scratch, draw, inscribe), from a Germanic root. 'Off' comes from Old English 'of' (away, from a place). The hyphenated noun 'write-off' emerged in the early 20th century and was extended from accounting to vehicles in the 1950s. The figurative meaning of dismissing someone or something as a failure developed later in the same century.