turnabout

noun

turn·​about ˈtərn-ə-ˌbau̇t 

1

a

: a change or reversal of direction, trend, policy, role, or character

b

: a changing from one allegiance to another

c

: turncoat, renegade

d

: an act or instance of retaliating

turnabout is fair play

2

: merry-go-round

Synonyms

• about-face
• about-turn [British]
• flip-flop
• reversal
• turnaround
• U-turn
• volte-face

Examples of turnabout in a Sentence

employees regarded the latest turnabout as a sure sign that management hadn't a clue as to what it was doing

Recent Examples on the Web

Olson revealed the turnabout crossover Thursday on the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women event. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

In a turnabout this year, the Trump campaign has encouraged early and mail-in voting in 2024 to avoid the same scenario again. —Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024

However this next show came to be, the decision validates a long-manifest turnabout, which is that the muse of visionary dressing is now the man. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2024

The trend marks a recent turnabout from sluggish housing prices that had taken hold in the city in the aftermath of the 2008 Great Recession. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing turnabout

• turnabout is fair play

Kids Definition

turnabout

noun

turn·​about ˈtər-nə-ˌbau̇t 

: a change from one direction or one way of thinking or acting to the opposite