English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

turnstile

TUHNS-tyl

Turnstile (noun) means a mechanical gate with rotating arms that lets one person through at a time, often after a ticket or payment. Example: “He tapped his card and pushed through the turnstile.”

noun
1
A mechanical gate with rotating arms that lets one person through at a time, often after a ticket or payment.
"He tapped his card and pushed through the turnstile."
"Long queues formed at the stadium turnstiles."
2
In logic, the "⊢" symbol used to show that a statement follows from what comes before it.
"The proof used a turnstile to show the conclusion followed from the premises."

How to use turnstile

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rotating gate that lets people through one by one, common at stations and stadiums.

Common pairings
pass through the turnstile ticket turnstile

Word forms

turnstiles plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “turnstile” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He tapped his card and pushed through the _____.

Etymology

From "turn" plus "stile" (a step or gate for crossing a fence), describing a stile that rotates.

Rhymes for turnstile

See all rhymes for turnstile →

Frequently asked questions

What does “turnstile” mean?

The word “turnstile” means a mechanical gate with rotating arms that lets one person through at a time, often after a ticket or payment. In plain terms, a rotating gate that lets people through one by one, common at stations and stadiums.

How do you pronounce “turnstile”?

“Turnstile” is pronounced TUHNS-tyl (/ˈtəɹnstaɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “turnstile” in a sentence?

Here is “turnstile” used in a sentence: “He tapped his card and pushed through the turnstile.”

What part of speech is “turnstile”?

“Turnstile” is a noun.

How many meanings does “turnstile” have?

“Turnstile” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mechanical gate with rotating arms that lets one person through at a time, often after a ticket or payment.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial