Runoff: meaning, definitions and examples

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runoff

[ ˈrʌnˌɔf ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

election result

A runoff is a second round of voting that is held when no candidate receives a majority of the votes in an initial election. The two candidates with the most votes from the first round compete in the runoff to determine the winner.

Synonyms

second round, tiebreaker.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
runoff	Used in elections to describe an additional round of voting held when no candidate meets the required threshold to win. It can also refer to the excess water from rain or other sources flowing over the ground surface. Due to no candidate winning a majority, a runoff will be held next week \| The heavy rains caused significant runoff, leading to flooding in low-lying areas
second round	Commonly used in elections or competitions when the initial round did not yield a clear winner, necessitating another round of voting or play. Neither candidate secured 50% of the vote, so a second round of elections is scheduled \| He advanced to the second round of the tennis tournament
tiebreaker	Typically used in sports or competitions to describe a method or additional play used to determine a winner when there is a tie. The game ended in a draw, so a tiebreaker was needed to determine the winner \| The final match went to a tiebreaker in the fifth set

Word

Description / Examples

runoff

Used in elections to describe an additional round of voting held when no candidate meets the required threshold to win. It can also refer to the excess water from rain or other sources flowing over the ground surface.

Due to no candidate winning a majority, a runoff will be held next week
| The heavy rains caused significant runoff, leading to flooding in low-lying areas

second round

Commonly used in elections or competitions when the initial round did not yield a clear winner, necessitating another round of voting or play.

Neither candidate secured 50% of the vote, so a second round of elections is scheduled
| He advanced to the second round of the tennis tournament

tiebreaker

Typically used in sports or competitions to describe a method or additional play used to determine a winner when there is a tie.

The game ended in a draw, so a tiebreaker was needed to determine the winner
| The final match went to a tiebreaker in the fifth set

Examples of usage

The runoff election will take place next week.
If no candidate receives over 50% of the votes, there will be a runoff.
The runoff will be between the top two candidates.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

water

Runoff refers to water from rain, snowmelt, or irrigation that flows over the surface of the ground. It can pick up pollutants and carry them into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Synonyms

drainage, surface water flow.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
runoff	Typically used in environmental and hydrological contexts to describe water, usually from rainfall, that flows over the ground surface and is not absorbed into the soil. Heavy rainfall can cause a significant amount of runoff, leading to flooding in low-lying areas. Runoff from agricultural fields can carry fertilizers into nearby rivers and lakes.
surface water flow	A more technical term used in hydrology and environmental science to describe the movement of water across the land surface. It generally refers to natural water flow, but can include runoff. Monitoring surface water flow is crucial for managing water resources and preventing soil erosion. Changes in land use can significantly alter the patterns of surface water flow in a watershed.
drainage	Refers to the process or system by which water is removed from an area, often using artificial systems like pipes and ditches. It's commonly used in civil engineering, agriculture, and medical contexts. Proper drainage is essential to prevent water from accumulating around the foundation of a house. After the surgery, the patient required the insertion of drainage tubes to remove excess fluids.

Word

Description / Examples

runoff

Typically used in environmental and hydrological contexts to describe water, usually from rainfall, that flows over the ground surface and is not absorbed into the soil.

Heavy rainfall can cause a significant amount of runoff, leading to flooding in low-lying areas.
Runoff from agricultural fields can carry fertilizers into nearby rivers and lakes.

surface water flow

A more technical term used in hydrology and environmental science to describe the movement of water across the land surface. It generally refers to natural water flow, but can include runoff.

Monitoring surface water flow is crucial for managing water resources and preventing soil erosion.
Changes in land use can significantly alter the patterns of surface water flow in a watershed.

drainage

Refers to the process or system by which water is removed from an area, often using artificial systems like pipes and ditches. It's commonly used in civil engineering, agriculture, and medical contexts.

Proper drainage is essential to prevent water from accumulating around the foundation of a house.
After the surgery, the patient required the insertion of drainage tubes to remove excess fluids.

Examples of usage

The heavy rainfall caused a lot of runoff in the streets.
The runoff from the fields is polluting the nearby river.
Preventing runoff is important for water quality.

Etymology

The term 'runoff' originated in the mid-19th century, combining 'run' and 'off'. It was first used in the context of water flow and was later adapted to describe election processes. The concept of runoff elections dates back to ancient Greece, where a two-round system was used to ensure majority support for the winning candidate.

See also: outrun, overrun, run, runaway, runnable, runner, runners, running, runs, runtime, runway.