turnstile

American  

[turn-stahyl] / ˈtɜrnˌstaɪl /

noun

• turnstiles
  plural

1. a structure of four horizontally revolving arms pivoted atop a post and set in a gateway or opening in a fence to allow the controlled passage of people.

2. a similar device set up in an entrance to bar passage until a charge is paid, to record the number of persons passing through, etc.

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turnstile British  

/ ˈtɜːnˌstaɪl /

noun

1. a mechanical gate or barrier with metal arms that are turned to admit one person at a time, usually in one direction only

2. any similar device that admits foot passengers but no large animals or vehicles

3. Also called: gatepost. logic a symbol of the form ̃⊢, ⊨, or ⊩, used to represent logical consequence when inserted between expressions to form a sequent, or when prefixed to a single expression to indicate its status as a theorem

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• turnstiles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of turnstile

First recorded in 1635–45; turn + stile ¹

Explanation

A gate that only lets one person at a time pass through is a turnstile. After you swipe your subway card, you can move through the turnstile into the station. Turnstiles are used to control and restrict people who are entering an area like a train station or office building. Many turnstiles are used in places where an entry fee is required. Two people can't fit through a turnstile at once, so they are also used to keep an accurate count of how many people pass through. The earliest turnstiles were used by shepherds, allowing them to exit a pen while keeping sheep inside.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turnstile turnstiles

A transit porter and motorman with the New York City subway in the 1980s, Mr. Naiden was active in a tiny communist cell within the union, endorsing free fares and encouraging turnstile hopping.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

They managed to enter the main turnstile door to access the lobby but did not pass security gates that bar access to other parts of the building.

From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2026

It closes a chapter on a very specific New York experience — the practiced wrist flick, the second swipe after a buzzer, the quiet victory when the turnstile finally unlocked.

From Salon ● Dec. 28, 2025

Manchester United's club policy is that any ticket downloaded more than four times risks being blocked at the turnstile.

From BBC ● Nov. 28, 2025

Beat Box and Boom Box ducked under the turnstile bars.

From "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Joint lead bookrunner and stabilization agent Morgan Stanley adorned its lobbies, elevator banks and turnstiles with SpaceX logos and pictures of Mars.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

They skipped stairs as they ran between platforms, and found they could shave time at the turnstiles by switching from using their phones to physical cards.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

She had set up folding chair next to the turnstiles with her mother and grandmother -- their beds for the next hours.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Such a prolonged closure will send the more than 400,000 people who pour through the center’s turnstiles each year scrambling to find other places to swim, dive, play water polo and aqua-aerobicize.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

He ran as fast as his legs would allow toward the subway, vaulting himself over the turnstiles and practically diving into the train car to make it on before the doors closed.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• bar
• door
• doorway
• exit
• fence
• port