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
Synonyms
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
Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
Not demonstrating curiosity can be a turnoff to recruiters.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Sam Allard, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
And over the years, significant numbers have not been turned off by Trump’s rhetoric and behavior.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for turnoff 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
The comic also planned a joke about Kamala Harris that could potentially be a serious turnoff to many women, no matter their political leanings.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
Not demonstrating curiosity can be a turnoff to recruiters.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Then turn off your phone and get a good night's sleep.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
And over the years, significant numbers have not been turned off by Trump’s rhetoric and behavior.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for turnoff
Dictionary Entries Near turnoff
Cite this Entry
“Turnoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turnoff. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
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