: a deliberate reduction in the book value of an asset (as to reflect the effect of obsolescence)
wrote down; written down; writing down; writes down
1
: to record in written form
2
a
: to depreciate, disparage, or injure by writing
b
: to reduce in status, rank, or value
especially
: to reduce the book value of
: to write so as to appeal to a lower level of taste, comprehension, or intelligence
Synonyms
Examples of write-down in a Sentence
Verb
a company forced to write down its assets
write down what you remember about that day
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
The auditor is supposed to enforce the goodwill write-down, assuming the auditor has reason to believe that the acquisition is not working as intended.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Bowery hasn't had VC firm reps on its board for at least the last couple months, while Fidelity recently wrote down its investment value by more than 99%.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for write-down 
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Noun
Advertisement The lawsuit alleges that company executives should have recognized that the loss of the NBA rights would prompt a reevaluation of its business prospects and spur goodwill write-downs.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
The auditor is supposed to enforce the goodwill write-down, assuming the auditor has reason to believe that the acquisition is not working as intended.
—Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Verb
Discovery took massive, multi-billion dollar hits this summer to write down the value of their cable assets.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Bowery hasn't had VC firm reps on its board for at least the last couple months, while Fidelity recently wrote down its investment value by more than 99%.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for write-down
Dictionary Entries Near write-down
Cite this Entry
“Write-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/write-down. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
write down
transitive verb
wrote down; written down; writing down
: to reduce the book value of (an asset)
write down accounts receivable
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