shutoff

noun shut·off \ ˈshət-ˌȯf \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of shutoff

1 : something (such as a valve) that shuts off

2 : stoppage, interruption

See shutoff defined for kids

Examples of shutoff in a Sentence

the utility company threatened them with the shutoff of electricity if the bills weren't paid

Recent Examples of shutoff from the Web

But opponents of the shutoff program say that the city should instead focus on creating a water-affordability plan.

— anne branigin, The Root, "More Than 17,000 Detroit Homes at Risk for Water Shutoff: Report," 26 Mar. 2018
Investigators also have interviewed the accident pilot, who had told city officials that a passenger’s bag might have hit the emergency fuel shutoff.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "FAA bans open-door helicopter flights after New York City crash," 16 Mar. 2018
Self defense: Police: Tax man shot, killed a disgruntled client threatening people with 2 handguns The crash may have been caused by a passenger's bag that inadvertently hit the emergency fuel shutoff button, USA Today reported.

— vic ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, "Butler grad among those killed in New York helicopter crash," 13 Mar. 2018
In-line tests would be regularly required and all such pipelines would be required to have a shutoff switch in case of an emergency.

— todd spangler, Detroit Free Press, "U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop proposes pipeline safety bill for Great Lakes," 19 Jan. 2018
In 2015, with Detroit a year or so out of bankruptcy and reeling from a burgeoning water shutoff crisis, El-Sayed moved back to Michigan to lead a turnaround of the city’s public health department.

— trevor bach, The Christian Science Monitor, "Can a Michigan doctor become America's first Muslim governor?," 29 Mar. 2018
The crash may have been caused by a passenger's bag that inadvertently hit the emergency fuel shutoff button, USA Today reported.

— vic ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, "Butler grad among those killed in New York helicopter crash," 13 Mar. 2018
While the cause of Sunday's crash remains unclear, the pilot told investigators a passenger's bag may have inadvertently hit the emergency fuel shutoff button, a senior law enforcement official said.

— holly yan, CNN, "NYC helicopter company had 3 crashes in 11 years -- how did they happen?," 12 Mar. 2018
The helicopter’s pilot said one of the passengers’ bags might have inadvertently hit the emergency fuel-shutoff button, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

— andy pasztor, WSJ, "Helicopter Pilot Cites Passenger Bag as Possible Cause of Crash," 12 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shutoff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of shutoff

1847

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

shutoff Synonyms

shut off

verb

Definition of shut off

transitive verb

1 : to close off : separate —usually used with from

shut off from the rest of the world

2 a : to cut off (a flow or passage) : stop

shuts off the oxygen supply

b : to stop the operation of (something, such as a machine)

shut the motor off

intransitive verb

: to cease operating : stop

shuts off automatically

See shut off defined for kids

Examples of shut off in a Sentence

threatened to shut off peace talks if the other side kept making unreasonable demands
shut off the computer to save electricity

Recent Examples of shut off from the Web

Two homes had their water shut off while services were restored.

— mikaela porter, courant.com, "Water Services Restored After Break At Major West Hartford Intersection," 10 May 2018
Scammers pretending to be from DTE Energy convinced a Troy man to send $393 by threatening that his power would be shut off in April.

— susan tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Robocalls are at a record high: How to avoid becoming a victim," 9 May 2018
The researchers simply shut off the system that's holding the atoms in the cloud together in a bunch.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "Clouds of atoms, vibrating mirrors show their quantum side," 28 Apr. 2018
The building was evacuated and closed, as ventilation systems were shut off, O'Halloran said.

— amy lieu, Fox News, "Chemical spill at Chicago-area medical clinic sends at least 15 to hospital," 28 Mar. 2018
University Hospitals said an alarm system that had been malfunctioning for weeks was shut off on March 3 and failed to notify staff when the storage tank's temperature began to rise.

— CBS News, "Couple sues University Hospitals after losing their "only chances" in fertility clinic failure," 28 Mar. 2018
The building was evacuated and closed, and ventilation systems were shut off, O’Halloran said.

— kate thayer, chicagotribune.com, "Chemical spill at Berwyn medical clinic sends 15 people to the hospital, officials say," 27 Mar. 2018
BEIJING—North Korea almost doubled its electricity exports to China last year despite its own chronic power shortages, drawing in more revenue as other sources of income were shut off by international sanctions.

— jeremy page, WSJ, "North Korea Is Making Millions of Dollars Selling Power to China," 16 Mar. 2018
Finally, a technician sent out to the property told Contessa the water had not been shut off, but was not flowing properly to the house.

— leila atassi, cleveland.com, "Misfortune befalls the Korpers, 2 weeks after moving into their new home: A Greater Cleveland," 14 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shut off.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.