runoff

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈrʌˌnɔf/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    Water from rain, snowmelt, or other sources that flows over the land surface rather than being absorbed into the ground, often carrying pollutants into rivers, lakes, and oceans.; A second or subsequent election held to determine a winner when no candidate achieved a required majority in the first vote.; The act or process of running off; a departure or escape.; The portion of precipitation or meltwater that does not infiltrate the soil and instead flows over or through the land to streams and rivers; the total volume of such water.; A channel or conduit through which surplus water is drained away.; In insurance, the process of settling claims that remain outstanding after a policy or portfolio has been closed or transferred.
  2. adjective
    Relating to or designed for the drainage of surface water.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable / uncountable Plural: runoffs

Collocations

runoff electionsurface runoffstorm runoffagricultural runoffrunoff water

Synonyms

drainageoverflowsecond ballotrevote

Commonly confused

run off
EN: 'run off' (two words) is a phrasal verb meaning to flee or produce copies; 'runoff' (one word) is a noun or adjective.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember that 'runoff' is one word when used as a noun or adjective (e.g., 'runoff election'), but 'run off' is two words when used as a phrasal verb (e.g., 'they ran off together').

💬 Examples

  1. Agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides has caused algal blooms in the lake.

  2. Since no candidate received more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election will be held in two weeks.

  3. The runoff of the prisoners was discovered only after the morning headcount.

  4. The annual runoff from the watershed was measured at approximately 200 million cubic meters.

  5. The engineers designed a runoff to divert excess water away from the foundation of the building.

  6. The company placed its legacy liabilities into runoff after exiting the workers' compensation line of business.

  7. The city installed new runoff control systems to reduce flooding in low-lying neighborhoods.