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
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
Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
About two dozen protesters were spotted on the road before the turnoff to the stately home.
—Danica Kirka, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Use a broom or vacuum cleaner with the rotating beater bar turned off (suction and stationary brush only).
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnoff
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Noun
Many Central Park West buildings, always more accepting of entertainers and new money, have also modernized their rules lately to attract more buyers (or at least avoid their being an obvious turnoff).
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 Aug. 2025
About two dozen protesters were spotted on the road before the turnoff to the stately home.
—Danica Kirka, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
If caught in dense blowing dust, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Use a broom or vacuum cleaner with the rotating beater bar turned off (suction and stationary brush only).
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnoff
Cite this Entry
“Turnoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnoff. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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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