revolving door

American  

noun

1. an entrance door for excluding drafts from the interior of a building, usually consisting of four rigid leaves set in the form of a cross and rotating about a central, vertical pivot in the doorway.

2. Informal.

   1. a company, institution, or organization with a high turnover of personnel or members.

   2. a legal, medical, or other system or agency that discharges criminals, patients, etc., in the shortest possible time and without adequate attention or consideration.

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revolving door British  

noun

1. a door that rotates about a central vertical axis, esp one with four leaves arranged at right angles to each other, thereby excluding draughts

2. 1. informal a tendency to change personnel on a frequent basis

   2. ( as modifier )

      a revolving-door band

3. 1. informal the hiring of former government employees by private companies with which they had dealings when they worked for the government

   2. ( as modifier )

      revolving-door consultancies

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Other Word Forms

• revolving-door
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of revolving door

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The revolving door continues in the playoffs as the Lakers begin the first round at home against the Houston Rockets on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. without Reaves and Doncic, who are out indefinitely.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Across the backends of the internet, cheeky characterizations of Norris-as-god still abound: Chuck Norris can believe it’s not butter, Chuck Norris doesn’t dodge bullets—they dodge him, Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

It spares the host from managing a revolving door of goodbyes, avoids disrupting the natural energy of the event and doesn’t encourage others to leave simply because they see you heading for the door.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

"Staffordshire needs stability after this revolving door with three leaders in nine months, so we hope Reform can find at least one councillor from their ranks who is up to the job."

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

But the flap he had to lift was at the other end, and she got to the revolving door before he could come out and catch her.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• bar
• door
• doorway
• exit
• fence
• port