shutoff
Americannoun
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an object or device that shuts (something) off.
the automatic shutoff on a heater.
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an act or instance of shutting off something, as an opening, a flow, or a service.
a shutoff of electric power due to unpaid bills.
Etymology
Origin of shutoff
First recorded in 1865–70; noun use of verb phrase shut off
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But consumers who fall behind can face a shutoff once the moratorium ends at the end of March.
From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026
Additionally, the company said its distribution lines to the west of Eaton Canyon "were de-energized well before the reported start time of the fire" as part of its fire safety shutoff program.
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2025
California officials have joined a legal effort to restore water to the Kern River after an abrupt shutoff of water dried up the river and killed thousands of fish in Bakersfield.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2024
Before the pandemic, the shutoff threshold for any delinquent account was $50.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2024
She hurried to the wall and flipped the emergency shutoff switch back to the “on” position.
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
