turnoff

1 of 2

noun

turn·​off ˈtərn-ˌȯf 

1

: a place where one turns off

especially : exit sense 4

2

informal : one that causes loss of interest or enthusiasm

the music was a turnoff

3

: a turning off

turn off

2 of 2

verb

turned off; turning off; turns off

transitive verb

1

: to stop the flow of or shut off by or as if by turning a control

turn the water off

2

informal : to cause to lose interest : bore

economics turns me off

also : to evoke a negative feeling in

3

a

: dismiss, discharge

b

: to dispose of : sell

4

: deflect sense 2, evade

5

: produce, accomplish

6

: hang sense 1b

7

a

: to remove (material) by the process of turning

b

: to shape or produce by turning

intransitive verb

1

: to deviate from a straight course or from a main road

turn off into a side road

2

a

British : to turn bad : spoil

b

: to change to a specified state : become

3

informal : to lose interest : withdraw

Synonyms of turnoff

Verb

• disgust
• repulse
• put off
• sicken

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

Noun

Conversely, for some young attorneys with an interest in the energy transition, the fact that much of the data center buildout is being powered by new natural gas plants has been a turnoff for joining digital infrastructure teams, another said. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026

There’s nothing more of a turnoff than trying to chase approval. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026

Verb

The city of Parkville will temporarily turn off its Flock license plate reader cameras after community members voiced concerns at community information meetings last week. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

But following news of the investigation against him, his gallery, Mennour, dropped him, and venues began turning off the lights of his neon installations. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3a

Rhymes for turnoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids 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 verb

ˌtər-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