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
Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Anyone with an aversion to physical and mental torture will likely find Dangerous Animals a repulsive turnoff, but others with a taste for grisly violence should find something juicy to chomp on.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025
Once enabled, these protections can't be turned off, shielding you against even the most sophisticated attacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for turnoff
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The job’s exposure to human waste, dangerous chemicals, and cramped conditions is a major turnoff, for many people.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Anyone with an aversion to physical and mental torture will likely find Dangerous Animals a repulsive turnoff, but others with a taste for grisly violence should find something juicy to chomp on.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025
Verb
If encountering blowing dust and sand that inhibits the ability to see the road in front of you, pull completely off the roadway and turn off your headlights.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025
Once enabled, these protections can't be turned off, shielding you against even the most sophisticated attacks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 June 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 5 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share