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
Don Sproul, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The helicopter was in Estonian airspace for around four minutes, the press service of Estonia's Defence Forces said, with its transponder turned off and without a flight plan.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnoff
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Noun
Nearby, visitors heading northeast on the winding park road will find a turnoff to the campgrounds just south of the park’s eastern gate.
—Don Sproul, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Kristen Harrison, Richard Cole Eminent Professor at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, suggested turning off notifications on social media and news apps can help you to set boundaries with the news cycle.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
The helicopter was in Estonian airspace for around four minutes, the press service of Estonia's Defence Forces said, with its transponder turned off and without a flight plan.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 11 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 16 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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