shutoff

noun shut·off \ ˈshət-ˌȯf \

Updated on: 26 Apr 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

The iPhone’s ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature shuts off nearly everything.

— david pierce, WSJ, "Apple Needs to Fix ‘Do Not Disturb’ Mode—Here’s How," 3 Apr. 2018
Investigators say a security guard shut off the public-announcement system alerted to the fire.

— The Economist, "A blaze in a shopping mall leaves scores dead," 26 Mar. 2018
Before Buress’ set, DJ Tony Trimm also had his sound shut off.

— morgan greene, chicagotribune.com, "Hannibal Buress stand-up set is interrupted at Loyola after his sex-abuse joke," 19 Mar. 2018
In response, the news agency reported, the owners’ group shut off power to the room, which also cut phone lines and internet connections throughout the building.

— kirk semple, New York Times, "Tempers Flare as Panama Hotel Owners Try to Oust Trump Company," 26 Feb. 2018
Firefighters responded quickly but had to wait until Entergy crews arrived on scene and shut off power to the line.

— littice bacon-blood, NOLA.com, "Filming at Bayou Segnette to include simulated gunfire, road closure," 22 Feb. 2018
After wiping up and taping a note for Kevin, the beloved patriarch shut off the slow cooker.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "This Is Us' Super Bowl Episode: Everything We Know About Jack's Death," 4 Feb. 2018
The sober reality: The government was kept afloat by borrowed money for years, and now the spigot is shut off.

— michelle kaske, Bloomberg.com, "Puerto Rico Could Cut Spending to the Bone—and Still Never Recover," 15 Mar. 2018
Drugmakers have blamed insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, for shutting off access.

— rebecca spalding and michelle fay cortez, chicagotribune.com, "Drugmakers try rare tactic to boost sales: cutting the price by thousands," 12 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.