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
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
That said, the hard-nosed tactics employed at Twitter and X might be a turnoff for some of the holding company’s clients.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
Casual readers of Elmore Leonard may be turned off by the minutia in this biography of the popular American writer.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
But today, there’s questions about whether Superman’s strong American symbolism will be a turnoff for global audiences, who have recently bristled at tariffs and trade policies enacted by President Trump.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
That said, the hard-nosed tactics employed at Twitter and X might be a turnoff for some of the holding company’s clients.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2025
Verb
If the bidet has a connection hose, check it for blockages by turning off the water shutoff valve and using a slim bottle brush or an old toothbrush to clear sediment and other buildup out of the hose.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2025
Casual readers of Elmore Leonard may be turned off by the minutia in this biography of the popular American writer.
—Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 13 July 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 20 Jul. 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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