1
: a place where one turns off
especially
: exit sense 4
2
: one that causes loss of interest or enthusiasm
the music was a turnoff
3
: a turning off
turned off; turning off; turns off
1
: to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control
turn the water off
2
: to cause to lose interest : bore
economics turns me off
also
: to evoke a negative feeling in
5
6
7
a
: to remove (material) by the process of turning
b
: to shape or produce by turning
1
: to deviate from a straight course or from a main road
turn off into a side road
3
: to lose interest : withdraw
Synonyms
Examples of turnoff in a Sentence
Noun
His strong cologne was a real turnoff.
Verb
that memorably bad meal turned me off about restaurant food for a while
turn off at the third exit and follow the ramp to your left
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Many homeowners might be tempted to tap into their equity and borrow against their homes, maybe to do a bathroom remodel, but the interest rates could be a turnoff.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
Related article Manila’s traffic is so bad Coldplay wrote a song about it
China’s infamous censorship laws can also be a major turnoff for Western acts.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Interestingly, the second-biggest financial turnoff differed for men and women.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2023
Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152/Dry Creek trailhead on the right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Who are these slobs?) 35% found plastic utensils and dinnerware a turnoff.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
Cold Spring Tavern Old Hollywood and a ranch that razors built
The off-piste adventure begins by exiting the 101/Ventura Freeway in Calabasas, at the Valley Circle turnoff.
—Eric A. Taub, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody: While the crossbody option was nice, the straps were uncomfortable and the fabric tore easily—two turnoffs, especially considering the price.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
To give us a feel for what the punishment was like, Quinn turned off all the lights and played the song on repeat until the crowd sang along.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024
Public bathrooms were locked by the authorities, and drinking fountains were turned off.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Morales finds that, because en suite is not typical in her market, buyers aren't turned off when a home doesn't have it.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
Of course, nothing prevented me from turning off the road and walking, unannounced, into any library.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Some less expensive 4Runner models will be available with rear-wheel-drive only, while others will have a part-time four-wheel-drive system, designed to be turned off when driving on dry pavement.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Finally, after being interrupted several times, Wolverine lost his temper and addressed the camera with plenty of F-bombs imploring people to turn off their phones.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, there’s not a button to press to turn off the use of data for AI training.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
Bachelor winner Kelsey Anderson has one specific turnoff when spending time with fiancé Joey Graziadei.
—Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Many homeowners might be tempted to tap into their equity and borrow against their homes, maybe to do a bathroom remodel, but the interest rates could be a turnoff.
—Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 20 Mar. 2024
Related article Manila’s traffic is so bad Coldplay wrote a song about it
China’s infamous censorship laws can also be a major turnoff for Western acts.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
Interestingly, the second-biggest financial turnoff differed for men and women.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2023
Turn right and go 2 miles to the turnoff for Forest Road 152/Dry Creek trailhead on the right and continue a short distance to the parking area.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2024
Who are these slobs?) 35% found plastic utensils and dinnerware a turnoff.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024
Cold Spring Tavern Old Hollywood and a ranch that razors built
The off-piste adventure begins by exiting the 101/Ventura Freeway in Calabasas, at the Valley Circle turnoff.
—Eric A. Taub, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2023
Arden Cove Carmel Convertible Backpack and Crossbody: While the crossbody option was nice, the straps were uncomfortable and the fabric tore easily—two turnoffs, especially considering the price.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
Verb
And that’s turned off a group of car buyers who don’t want to be associated with the Tesla CEO’s polarizing antics at a time when the electric-vehicle maker can’t afford to lose any customers.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024
To give us a feel for what the punishment was like, Quinn turned off all the lights and played the song on repeat until the crowd sang along.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 22 Apr. 2024
Public bathrooms were locked by the authorities, and drinking fountains were turned off.
—Abbie Vansickle, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Morales finds that, because en suite is not typical in her market, buyers aren't turned off when a home doesn't have it.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
Of course, nothing prevented me from turning off the road and walking, unannounced, into any library.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Some less expensive 4Runner models will be available with rear-wheel-drive only, while others will have a part-time four-wheel-drive system, designed to be turned off when driving on dry pavement.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Finally, after being interrupted several times, Wolverine lost his temper and addressed the camera with plenty of F-bombs imploring people to turn off their phones.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, there’s not a button to press to turn off the use of data for AI training.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turnoff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near turnoff
Cite this Entry
“Turnoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnoff. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
turnoff
1 of 2 noun
turn·off
ˈtər-ˌnȯf 
1
: a place where one turns off (as from a road)
2
: something that causes loss of interest or enjoyment
the music was a turnoff
turn off
2 of 2 verbˌtər-ˈnȯf,
ˈtər-
1
: to turn aside
turned off onto a side road
2
: to stop by or as if by turning a control
turn off the light
turn the alarm off
3
: to cause dislike or loss of interest
that sort of thing turns me off
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