turnkey

American  

[turn-kee] / ˈtɜrnˌki /

noun

turnkeys plural

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

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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

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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

This home is poised to break the record because of its privacy, convenience and turnkey condition, Bowen said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 18, 2026

“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

“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

“O yes, I dare say!” said the turnkey.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

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

"One of the night watchers, and he had it from one of the turnkeys."

From The Coming of the King by Hocking, James

But the turnkeys, though friendly, were rather chary of information, and Jean gleaned but little intelligence in this direction.

From When a Cobbler Ruled a King by Seaman, Augusta Huiell

Well, that is true enough; he went mad, no doubt, on St. Vitus's day; but it was not upon that day thou did'st kick up such a riot, and did'st run off from the turnkeys.

From King Eric and the Outlaws, Vol. 1 or, the Throne, the Church, and the People in the Thirteenth Century. Vol. I. by Ingemann, Bernhard Severin