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

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

All of these connectivity components are critical to the rack systems that Nvidia essentially sells as turnkey computers, according to Naji.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 3, 2026

Many have started to offer turnkey packages, outfitting new homes from top to bottom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 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

The turnkey was twenty stone of gross stupidity, with brown rotting teeth and small dark eyes.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

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

Give wood to the Count in his chamber," said Besmaux, to one of the turnkeys, who had entered at the same time with the officer on guard; "and now, good night, Count.

From The Huguenot: (Volumes I-III) A Tale of the French Protestants. by James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)

With the turnkeys they passed an iron grate, beyond which was seen a vaulted passage, which, in the darkness, seemed interminable.

From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 4, November 1, 1851 by Various

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 Campbell, Theophila Carlile