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
Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Here’s a striking statistic: 59% of Americans say that irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Feb. 2025
A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
In addition, there is a numeric keypad for use with spreadsheets and special keys for turning off the trackpad and for adjusting the tracking response.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 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
Other pages of the menu are comical and sometimes a turnoff with graphic sketches of rattlesnake, kangaroo and buffalo, calling attention to dishes made with these unfortunate species.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Here’s a striking statistic: 59% of Americans say that irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Feb. 2025
Verb
But Washington should try in every way possible to isolate it by turning off its viable options for forming anti-American coalitions.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
In addition, there is a numeric keypad for use with spreadsheets and special keys for turning off the trackpad and for adjusting the tracking response.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 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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