run-off

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A final election or contest between the two leading candidates or teams after an earlier vote has not produced a clear winner.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or 'the': 'a run-off', 'the run-off election'. Can be written as 'runoff' in American English.

   Patterns

   • a run-off election
   • force a run-off
   • win the run-off

   The presidential election went to a run-off because no candidate won more than half the votes.

   She won the run-off by a narrow margin.

   The two teams will meet again in a run-off to decide the champion.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   Water that flows over the surface of the ground when the soil cannot absorb it, often carrying pollutants into rivers.

   Grammar: Uncountable; used with 'the' or no article: 'Run-off from farms can harm water quality.'

   Patterns

   • agricultural run-off
   • run-off from something
   • stormwater run-off

   Fertilizers in agricultural run-off can cause algae blooms in lakes.

   The city built new drains to manage stormwater run-off.

   Run-off from the construction site polluted the nearby stream.

Word forms

Common combinations

run-off election

The run-off election will be held next month.

agricultural run-off

Agricultural run-off is a major source of water pollution.

force a run-off

The close result forced a run-off between the top two candidates.

run-off water

Run-off water from the hills flooded the valley.

Synonyms and how they differ

second round

Used in elections and tournaments; less specific than 'run-off', which implies a final deciding contest.

drainage

Refers to the system or process of water flowing away, not the water itself; 'run-off' is the water that flows.

Word family

runoff noun

American spelling of the same word.

Commonly confused: run-off or run off?

Practice

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