turnkey

[turn-kee]

noun

plural

turnkeys 

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of turnkey¹

First recorded in 1645–55; turn + key ¹

Example Sentences

Homeowners using the portal can match their address to home choices that include pre-designed turnkey residences at costs equal to or below average insurance proceeds, Horne said.

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As a result, “the home is the epitome of turnkey luxury,” the listing notes.

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The house they purchased for $1.75 million was “turnkey,” and Dazey had fun adding skylights to the beamed ceilings in the living room and redoing the kitchen to feel like an old Italian villa.

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The report further recommends launching a consortium of builders that could offer turnkey rebuilding solutions to property owners who prefer not to undertake the rebuilding on their own.

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"There's a growing trend of more people with a busy city life wanting a 'turnkey' lifestyle. Real estate developers see this as a sales and marketing advantage," says Mr MacWilliam.

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