runoff

[ruhn-awf, -of]

noun

1. something that drains or flows off, as rain that flows off from the land in streams.

2. a final contest held to determine a victor after earlier contests have eliminated the weaker contestants.

3. a deciding final contest held after one in which there has been no decisive victor, as between two contestants who have tied for first place.

4. Also called rundown. a continual or prolonged reduction, especially in quantity or supply.

   a runoff in bank deposits; a sharp runoff in business inventories.

5. Stock Exchange.,  the final prices appearing on the ticker after the closing bell is rung for the trading day.

Word History and Origins

Origin of runoff¹

1850–55, noun use of verb phrase run off; runoff ( def. 2, 3 ) -off

Example Sentences

California receives the vast bulk of its rain and snow between December and March, trapping the runoff in its reservoirs to mete out during the hot, dry seasons that follow.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some had proposed that agricultural runoff or nutrients released by rainforest deforestation were responsible.

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In cities, rising temperatures and poor air quality contribute to obesity, diabetes, and immune disorders in companion animals, while chemical runoff and airborne pollution influence endocrine function in birds and mammals.

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With other leftist candidates failing to garner support, Jara is expected to lose to Kast in next month’s runoff, polls show.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Rocks were piling along the margins of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, where runoff hindered drivers and forced lane closures.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drainage 

When To Use

What is a runoff?

Runoff is liquid, especially water or rainwater, that flows off or drains away, as in The storm sewer could not hold all the runoff from the recent rains. This sense of runoff is often used in the context of environmental science. It often refers to water that flows into streams or back into the water supply rather than seeping into the ground. For example, when farm crops are watered, any water that is not absorbed into the ground and drains away instead is runoff.This term comes from the verb phrase run off, which can mean to drain or flow away, as in The wastewater runs off into the stream. An unrelated but also common meaning of runoff refers to a competition that determines a final winner after earlier contests have narrowed down the competitors. Similarly, it can refer to a contest held to determine a winner when the initial contest did not produce one, such as when two people tie. This sense of the word is especially used in the context of political elections.For example, a place may hold an election that features five candidates. After the election, the lowest vote-getter is removed and another election is held with the remaining candidates. This process is repeated until only two candidates are left. This final election, which finally decides the winner, is called a runoff.Less commonly, the verb run off can mean to decide a winner through a runoff, as in The final contest will be run off at the end of the month. Example: Due to the use of pesticides in many industrial farms, runoff becomes a major concern for local water supplies.