strike-slip
noun
often attributive
1
: a fault about which movement is predominantly horizontal
2
: a slipping movement along the strike of a fault
strike-slip earthquakes
Examples of strike-slip in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Geologically, Guatemala experiences earthquakes as a result of the Cocos Plate subduction beneath the North American and Caribbean plates along the Middle America Trench and from strike-slip systems such as the Motagua Fault system across the country's northern region.
—
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
In addition, even if most of the fault motion is vertical (a classic strike-slip fault), the slip curves at first, then remains linear as the slip slows down.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Earthquakes on subduction faults, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another, have a larger risk of creating big tsunamis than earthquakes on strike-slip faults, such as the San Andreas, where plates are rubbing alongside each other.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
The strike-slip fault extends through parts San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Geological Survey data indicates the earthquake occurred on or near the San Jacinto fault, a 130 mile-long strike-slip system that passes through parts of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2024
Analysis of the data in Morocco indicates two types of movement: The land on one side shifted horizontally relative to the other, known as strike-slip, as well as upward relative to the other, known as a reverse thrust.
—Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
Fortunately for the Argo, strike-slip fault lines like the San Andreas do not typically produce large tsunamis.
—WIRED, 15 June 2023
The Cascadian Subduction Zone is a large strike-slip fault off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
—Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023
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Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
In addition, even if most of the fault motion is vertical (a classic strike-slip fault), the slip curves at first, then remains linear as the slip slows down.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Earthquakes on subduction faults, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another, have a larger risk of creating big tsunamis than earthquakes on strike-slip faults, such as the San Andreas, where plates are rubbing alongside each other.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
The strike-slip fault extends through parts San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Geological Survey data indicates the earthquake occurred on or near the San Jacinto fault, a 130 mile-long strike-slip system that passes through parts of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 2024
Analysis of the data in Morocco indicates two types of movement: The land on one side shifted horizontally relative to the other, known as strike-slip, as well as upward relative to the other, known as a reverse thrust.
—Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
Fortunately for the Argo, strike-slip fault lines like the San Andreas do not typically produce large tsunamis.
—WIRED, 15 June 2023
The Cascadian Subduction Zone is a large strike-slip fault off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
—Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Strike-slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike-slip. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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