rule off

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To draw a line underneath, for example to mark the end of a topic or of an accounting period.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The correctness of the accounts receivable ledger is ascertained by comparison of its balance with that of the control account. The practice of arbitrarily ruling off accounts in the ledger at the end of each month because of the fact that creamery operation usually is divided into monthly periods i

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “rule off” mean?

To draw a line underneath, for example to mark the end of a topic or of an accounting period.

Is “rule off” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.