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

Inflected Forms

noun

• turnkeys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of turnkey

First recorded in 1645–55; turn + key ¹

Example Sentences

In our view, Kliavkoff is a deeply decent individual and smart business executive who was poorly suited for the task assigned by the presidents and the search firm of record, Turnkey ZRG.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2023

There was a window of time — days and possibly weeks — during which allegations about Bohn’s behavior at Cincinnati could have been unearthed by Turnkey and USC.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2023

Was nobody from Cincinnati approached by USC or its hired guns Turnkey Search?

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2023

Gladchuk said he spoke with many candidates and used search firm Turnkey to help.

From Washington Post • Dec. 20, 2022

Turnkey after turnkey admitted him, until finally he stood before the cell of John Law and delivered into his hand, as he had been commanded, the message that he bore.

From The Mississippi Bubble by Hough, Emerson