noun
Uncommon
runoff
Runoff (noun) means Rain or irrigation water that flows off the surface of the land instead of soaking in. Example: “Farm runoff carried fertilizer into the nearby river.”
noun
1
Rain or irrigation water that flows off the surface of the land instead of soaking in.
"Farm runoff carried fertilizer into the nearby river."
"Heavy rain caused runoff to flood the storm drains."
2
An additional round of a competition or election held to settle a tie or narrow down finalists.
"The election went to a runoff after no candidate won a majority."
How to use runoff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither water draining off land, or a tie-breaking extra round in a competition or election.
Common pairings
agricultural runoff
a runoff election
stormwater runoff
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like runoff.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- runoffs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farm _____ carried fertilizer into the nearby river.
Etymology
Formed from the verb phrase "run off".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “runoff” mean?
The word “runoff” means rain or irrigation water that flows off the surface of the land instead of soaking in. In plain terms, either water draining off land, or a tie-breaking extra round in a competition or election.
How do you use “runoff” in a sentence?
Here is “runoff” used in a sentence: “Farm runoff carried fertilizer into the nearby river.”
What part of speech is “runoff”?
“Runoff” is a noun.
Is “runoff” a common word?
“Runoff” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “runoff” have?
“Runoff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: rain or irrigation water that flows off the surface of the land instead of soaking in.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include runoff:
