Dictionary

runoff en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Deverbal from run off.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) That portion of precipitation or irrigation on an area which does not infiltrate or evaporate, but instead is discharged from the area.
   • The next series of high tides or large waves will tend to rebuild the berm and redam the stream. Ultimately, increased runoff due to fall or winter rains will raise the stream level to the point where it breaks through. 1994, Ruth Patrick, Rivers of the United States, Estuaries, page 138:
2. (countable, uncountable) Dissolved chemicals, etc, included in such water.
   • The runoff of nitrates is poisoning the lake.
   • Toxic runoff from rare earth mines in Myanmar is contaminating rivers that flow into Thailand, threatening the Mekong River and its basin's fisheries and farmland. 2026 April 29, The Associated Press, “Rare earth mining is poisoning Mekong River tributaries, threatening ‘the world’s kitchen’”, in The Associated Press:
3. (countable, uncountable) A second or further round of a competition, after other competitors (often all but the last two) have been eliminated.
4. (countable, uncountable) A second or further round of an indecisive election, after other candidates (often all but the last two) have been eliminated.
   • Mr. Macron was unable to command more than a small plurality of support against several opponents in the first round of voting on April 10. Ms. Le Pen, who finished second, is his opponent in the runoff election on Sunday. 2022 April 21, Michael Crowley, “U.S. Braces for Potential French Election Shockwave”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • It is one of the left's best ever results and will raise momentum for next month's final runoff where only the two candidates will compete against each other. 2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in The Guardian:
   • There will now be a runoff as neither front runner received more than 50% of the vote.

Forms

Deriveds

instant-runoff voting · farm runoff · surface runoff

Translations (43)

pt escoamento (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · ar الجولة الثانية (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · cmn 決勝選舉 /决胜选举 (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · es acholole (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · es balotaje (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · ar جولة الإعادة (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · hu esővíztöbblet (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · gl doira (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · ar الجولة الحاسمة (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · hu el nem folyó esővíz (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · ms larian (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · pt segundo turno (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · sv dagvatten (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · hu második/további forduló (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · fi valunta (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · de Stichwahl (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · hu túlfolyás (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · de Abfluss (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · hi अपवाहित (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · pt segunda volta (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · pl balotaż (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · ru сток (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · cmn 附加賽 /附加赛 (sports: a second or further round of a competition, after other competitors (often all but the last two) have been eliminated) · id limpasan (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · fr second tour (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · fa دور دوم (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · cs odtok (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · ru заключи́тельный эта́п вы́боров (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · fi toinen äänestys (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · sv avrinning (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · cmn 徑流 /径流 (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · es segunda vuelta (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · hu pótválasztás (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · fi valunta (dissolved chemicals, etc, included in such water) · haw holo kele wai (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · hu döntő (sports: a second or further round of a competition, after other competitors (often all but the last two) have been eliminated) · fr ballottage (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · hu folyadéktöbblet (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · cmn 比賽時間扣除 /比赛时间扣除 (sports: a second or further round of a competition, after other competitors (often all but the last two) have been eliminated) · es escorrentía (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · fr ruissellement (portion of precipitation or irrigation which does not infiltrate) · ru второ́й эта́п вы́боров (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election) · fi toinen vaali (politics: second or further round of an indecisive election)