turnon
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
a person or thing that causes a feeling of excitement, especially of a sexual nature; a stimulus that excites or arouses interest.
Something that switches on a particular emotional or intellectual response; a catalyst for enthusiasm or arousal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in informal contexts to describe personal preferences that elicit strong positive reactions, often sexual or aesthetic. It is a compound noun derived from the phrasal verb 'turn on'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling and usage are identical in both varieties. It is equally informal in both BrE and AmE.
Connotations
Strongly associated with sexual arousal or intense personal preference. Can be used non-sexually (e.g., intellectual turn-on), but the sexual connotation is primary.
Frequency
More frequent in spoken language, magazines, and informal writing than in formal contexts. No significant difference in frequency between BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a turnon for [person][find something] a turnonVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in very informal marketing discussions about product appeal.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in specific sociological or psychological studies of human arousal.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation about relationships, preferences, and attractions.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- For her, a good sense of humour is a real turnon.
- Loud music is a total turnon for some people.
- His confidence was a major turnon, she had to admit.
- Oddly enough, tidiness is a big turnon for me.
- The film's aesthetic was less a narrative device and more a visual turnon for the cine-literate audience.
- She found his intellectual curiosity to be the ultimate turnon, far surpassing any physical attribute.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a light switch: A 'turnon' is something that switches your excitement ON.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTRACTION/EXCITEMENT IS A SWITCH BEING TURNED ON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'turn on' as 'включать' (to switch on a device). The noun 'turnon' is best translated as 'возбудитель', 'то, что возбуждает', or 'то, что заводит' in informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as two words ('turn on') when used as a noun. The noun is solid: 'turnon'. Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Confusing it with the verb phrase 'to turn on (someone)' meaning to attack.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'turnon' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun meaning 'something that excites', it is written as one solid word: 'turnon'. The phrasal verb is two words: 'turn on'.
Yes, it can describe anything that strongly excites or interests you (e.g., 'Classic cars are a real turnon for him'), though the sexual connotation is often present or understood.
The direct opposite is 'turnoff' (also one word), meaning something that causes a loss of interest or arousal.
It is informal but is well-established in the language. It is not considered vulgar slang, but it is too informal for most formal writing.
Explore