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turnover

/ˈtɜːnˌəʊ.və/
IELTSAcademic
noun
  1. 1.

    Turnover is the amount of money a business gets from sales in a period. It can also mean how often people leave and are replaced in a job or group.

    • The company reported higher turnover this year.
    • Staff turnover is high in busy shops.
  2. 2.

    In sports, turnover is when one team loses possession of the ball or puck to the other team.

    • A quick turnover led to a goal.
    • We lost the match because of too many turnovers.

Adinary Nuance

Turnover is broader than sales, because it can include total business income, not just profit. It is also different from revenue in some business contexts, though people sometimes use them loosely. In everyday speech, turnover can also mean staff replacement or a loss of possession in sports.

In other languages

Vietnamese
doanh thu
Spanish
facturación
Chinese
营业额
Japanese
売上高
Korean
매출

Etymology

Turnover comes from the verb phrase 'turn over', used in English from the 16th century. The business meaning developed later from the idea of money or goods being moved through a business.

Common phrases

annual turnoverstaff turnoverhigh turnoverturnover rate

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is turnover the same as profit?
No. Turnover is money from sales. Profit is what remains after costs.
Is turnover used in business English?
Yes. It is very common in business reports and accounting.
What is staff turnover?
It means workers leave a company and new people replace them.
Does turnover mean sales in Indian English?
Yes, in business contexts it often means total sales or revenue.