turnkey

American  

[turn-kee] / ˈtɜrnˌki /

noun

• turnkeys
  plural

1. a person who has charge of the keys of a prison; jailer.

---

adjective

1. Also turn-key of, relating to, or resulting from an arrangement under which a private contractor designs and constructs a project, building, etc., for sale when completely ready for occupancy or operation.

   turn-key housing, turnkey contract.

2. fully equipped; ready to go into operation.

   a turnkey business.

turnkey British  

/ ˈtɜːnˌkiː /

noun

1. archaic a keeper of the keys, esp in a prison; warder or jailer

---

adjective

1. denoting a project, as in civil engineering, in which a single contractor has responsibility for the complete job from the start to the time of installation or occupancy

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• turnkeys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of turnkey

First recorded in 1645–55; turn + key ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turnkey turnkeys

“We have a legitimate comp next door that allows us to say, ‘Here’s what a turnkey house is worth.’

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 8, 2026

It aims to be a turnkey partner for clinics that don’t offer home infusions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 7, 2026

“Forum reached out to me saying they were a startup company and wanted to start a program with turnkey solutions” — truck leasing, maintenance and charging, including chargers installed at the Hight truck yard.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2025

The simplicity of the "all in one" microcomb laser results in lower power demands, lower costs, high tunability, and a turnkey operation.

From Science Daily ● May 22, 2024

There are shattered mailboxes, cars that have jumped curbs into hedges, and the kind of random debris that one generally doesn’t find in a turnkey community like this one.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

The veteran turnkeys consider the many rookies too green and soft.

From Time Magazine Archive

The rest of “us” consisted of a cook Davos never saw, six guardsmen in the ground-floor barracks, a pair of washerwomen, and the two turnkeys who looked after the prisoner.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

While the service of the house, the feeding and airing, and the discipline, were in the hands of the haiduks, who acted as turnkeys, the meaner work was done by the prisoners.

From The Village Notary by J?zsef E?tv?s

At last, about two o'clock, voices were heard along the corridor, tramping footfalls, the hoarse growl of the turnkeys, and finally the unbolting of the cell-door.

From When a Cobbler Ruled a King by Augusta Huiell Seaman

The turnkeys did this, Carlile offering no resistance, merely saying, "I see your object, so shall not resist; I know you cannot keep me long in irons".

From The Battle of The Press As Told in the Story of the Life of Richard Carlile By His Daughter, Theophila Carlile Campbell by Theophila Carlile Campbell