WRITE OFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does write off mean? 

• WRITE OFF (verb)
  The verb WRITE OFF has 4 senses:

1. concede the loss or worthlessness of something or somebody

2. write something fluently, and without hesitation

3. cancel (a debt)

4. reduce the estimated value of something

  Familiarity information: WRITE OFF used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WRITE OFF (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Concede the loss or worthlessness of something or somebody

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

write it off as a loss

Hypernyms (to "write off" is one way to...):

acknowledge; admit (declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Write something fluently, and without hesitation

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "write off" is one way to...):

compose; indite; pen; write (produce a literary work)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cancel (a debt)

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "write off" is one way to...):

cancel; strike down (declare null and void; make ineffective)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

write-off (the act of cancelling from an account a bad debt or a worthless asset)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Reduce the estimated value of something

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

expense; write down; write off

Context example:

For tax purposes you can write off the laser printer

Hypernyms (to "write off" is one way to...):

depreciate (lower the value of something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

write-off (the act of cancelling from an account a bad debt or a worthless asset)

write-off ((accounting) reduction in the book value of an asset)