turnoff

American  

[turn-awf, -of] / ˈtɜrnˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. a small road that branches off from a larger one, especially a ramp or exit leading off a major highway.

   He took the wrong turnoff and it took him some 15 minutes to get back on the turnpike.

2. a place at which one diverges from or changes a former course.

3. an act of turning off.

4. the finished product of a certain manufacturing process, as weaving.

5. the quantity of fattened livestock distributed to market.

6. Slang. something or someone that makes one unsympathetic or antagonistic.

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Etymology

Origin of turnoff

First recorded in 1680–90; noun use of verb phrase turn off

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turnoff

The same turnoff happens with long-term-care insurance, whether it’s a traditional monthly premium policy or a hybrid life-insurance policy that requires a lump-sum payment upfront.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Netflix’s strategy of mainly releasing movies on its platform instead of doing large theatrical windows also was a turnoff for some talent who wanted to see their work on the big screen, some sources said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

She doesn’t need the imprimatur of an established brand to maintain an audience; as trust in institutions plummets, such affiliations can even be a turnoff.

From Slate ● May 6, 2026

So, it’s understandable if the iShares quality ETF, QUAL, goes for a little more, but it’s a bigger turnoff that it does so after having underperformed since its launch in 2013.

From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025

It was nearly dark and a curfew would go into effect any minute when we reached the turnoff to Shangla.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

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Related Words

• bore
• deterrent
• drag
• nuisance
• pain

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