runoff

IPA/ˈrʌn.ɒf/
KK[rˈʌnˌɔf]IPA/ˈrʌn.ɑːf/

runoff — noun

  • runoffsingular
  • runoffsplural

1. A second election or contest between the leading contenders, held because the fi

1.nounB2
Definition

A second election or contest between the leading contenders, held because the first round ended without any candidate gaining enough support to win.

Example

After the primary election, the two leading candidates faced each other in a runoff.

collocation: face a runoff

The mayoral race was so close that the city organized a runoff three weeks later.

collocation: organize a runoff

Common collocations
  • hold a runoff
  • face a runoff
  • win a runoff
  • runoff election
  • runoff between [candidates]
Synonyms
  • deciding round

    more general, used in sports as well as elections

  • final vote

    emphasises the voting rather than the contest as a whole

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

runoff + election

a runoff between [candidates]

Usage Note

Commonly takes an article (a/the runoff). Often paired with 'election' (runoff election) or used with 'hold', 'face', 'win'.

Common Mistakes

They held a second runoff election.
They held a runoff election.
'runoff' already implies a second round, so 'second' is redundant.

2. Rain, melted snow, or other liquid that flows across the ground into rivers, lak

2.nounB2
Definition

Rain, melted snow, or other liquid that flows across the ground into rivers, lakes, or drains instead of soaking into the soil.

Example

Heavy rainfall caused agricultural runoff to flow into the nearby river.

collocation: agricultural runoff

Farmers use special ditches to control the runoff from their fields.

collocation: control runoff

Common collocations
  • agricultural runoff
  • industrial runoff
  • storm-water runoff
  • control runoff
  • reduce runoff
  • runoff from [source]
Synonyms
  • drainage

    broader term, can refer to the system as well as the liquid

  • surface water

    more technical, used in hydrology

Antonyms
  • groundwater

    water that soaks into the ground rather than flowing over it

Grammar Patterns

[type] + runoff

runoff + from + [source]

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. The source or type of runoff is often specified with a preceding noun (agricultural, industrial, storm-water) or the preposition 'from'.

Common Mistakes

The runoff water goes into the river.
Runoff from the fields flows into the river.
'runoff' already describes water; adding 'water' is redundant.
Phrasal verbs

run off

phrasal verb

To write, say, or make something very quickly, often without much planning or effort.

Lara ran off a short speech for the meeting in just ten minutes.

The poet ran off a few lines of verse before the inspiration faded.

run off

phrasal verb

To complete a race, competition, or election by holding a final deciding round.

After a tie in the semifinals, the two top athletes will run off the deciding heat at the national stadium on Saturday.

Emre and Soraya tied for first place in the race, so the judges will run off the deciding heat tonight.

run off

phrasal verb

To cause liquid to flow away from a surface or container; to drain.

Bilal ran off the excess water from the pot before serving the pasta.

The plumber ran off the waste from the tank into the main pipe.

run off

phrasal verb

To force someone to leave a place, especially someone who is not welcome there.

The farmer ran off the trespassers who were camping on his land.

Wei ran off the stray dogs that kept digging in the garden.

run off

phrasal verb

To leave a place quickly, especially to escape a person or situation.

The family's dog ran off into the woods when it heard the loud thunder.

Sofia ran off to join a traveling theater group when she was eighteen.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'runoff' is a specific second election held when no candidate wins enough votes in the first round. A 'deciding round' is more general and can refer to any final stage of a competition, not just elections — a tennis match can have a deciding round, but not a runoff. A 'final vote' focuses on the act of voting itself rather than the entire contest, and is used in parliamentary settings. 'Primary election' is the opposite concept — it is the first round that narrows the field, whereas a runoff picks the winner from the top candidates. For example: 'She won the primary but lost the runoff.'

runoff ↗deciding roundfinal voteprimary election

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The noun 'runoff' was formed in the late 1800s by combining the verb 'run' (from Old English 'rinnan', meaning to flow or move swiftly) with the adverb 'off' (from Old English 'of', meaning away from). The political sense came first (1880s), describing an election that 'runs off' from the main one. The environmental sense followed later, referring to water that 'runs off' the land instead of soaking in.

First known use

1867

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Verb