strike slip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Specialized / TechnicalAcademic / Scientific / Technical
Quick answer
What does “strike slip” mean?
A type of fault where the primary movement is horizontal, parallel to the fault's strike (direction).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of fault where the primary movement is horizontal, parallel to the fault's strike (direction).
In geology, a strike-slip fault involves lateral displacement of rock masses on either side of the fault plane, with little to no vertical movement. It is a fundamental tectonic boundary, such as the San Andreas Fault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. American English may use it more frequently due to prominent examples like the San Andreas Fault.
Connotations
Technical and precise. Carries connotations of tectonic activity, seismic hazard, and geological analysis.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English. High frequency within geological literature and related news reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “strike slip” in a Sentence
[The/an] + [adjective] + strike-slip fault + [verb] + ...[Noun] + is/are + a + [adjective] + strike-slip fault.[Earthquake/rupture] + occurred on + a + strike-slip fault.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “strike slip” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tectonic model predicts the boundary will begin to strike-slip within the next million years.
American English
- The fault has been strike-slipping at a rate of several centimeters per year.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in geology, earth sciences, geophysics, and civil/earthquake engineering contexts.
Everyday
Only in news reports about major earthquakes occurring on such faults.
Technical
The primary context. Used in scientific papers, hazard assessments, and geological surveys.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “strike slip”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “strike slip”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “strike slip”
- Using 'strike-slip' to describe the earthquake itself rather than the fault type. (Incorrect: 'It was a major strike-slip.' Correct: 'It was a major earthquake on a strike-slip fault.')
- Confusing 'strike-slip' with other fault types like 'thrust' or 'normal'.
- Misspelling as 'strikeslip' or 'strike slip' (hyphenated form is standard as a compound adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. All transform faults are a type of strike-slip fault, but not all strike-slip faults are transform faults. Transform faults specifically accommodate horizontal motion between tectonic plates at their boundaries.
These terms describe the direction of relative motion. 'Dextral' (or right-lateral) means if you stand on one side, the block opposite you appears to have moved to the right. 'Sinistral' (or left-lateral) means it appears to have moved to the left.
Yes. Many faults have 'oblique-slip' motion, which is a combination of horizontal (strike-slip) and vertical (dip-slip) displacement.
The type of faulting influences the pattern and intensity of ground shaking. Strike-slip faults often produce different shaking patterns and potential for surface rupture compared to thrust faults, affecting building codes and hazard maps.
A type of fault where the primary movement is horizontal, parallel to the fault's strike (direction).
Strike slip is usually academic / scientific / technical in register.
Strike slip: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪk ˌslɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪk ˌslɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On a strike-slip (highly technical shorthand)”
- “A pure strike-slip (technical term for no vertical component)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the ground 'striking' or sliding past itself along a line – it slips sideways, not up and down.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SEISMIC ZIPPER: Two tectonic pieces sliding past each other like the teeth of a zipper.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of a strike-slip fault?