turnover

/ˈtɜːrnˌoʊvər/
nounIntermediate
What It Really Means
Not applicable (word is literal in primary meanings).
Literal Meaning
The act of rotating or changing position.
Literal Breakdown
turnto rotate+overcompletely
Mental Image
A physical rotation or replacement of items or positions.
When to Use
A retail manager analyzing monthly sales figures.
Cultural Note
The term is widely used in business and finance to describe financial performance and employee dynamics.
💼Business
formal

The total sales or revenue generated by a business over a specific period, typically a year.

The company reported a 15% increase in turnover this quarter.

The company reported a 15% increase in revenue this quarter.

Retail turnover is a key metric for assessing store performance.

Retail sales revenue is a key metric for assessing store performance.

💡

Turnover is often used interchangeably with 'revenue' in business contexts, though technically revenue refers to all income, while turnover may exclude certain adjustments.

technical

The rate at which inventory is sold and replaced over a period.

High inventory turnover indicates strong sales and efficient stock management.

High inventory turnover indicates strong sales and efficient stock management.

💡

Calculated as cost of goods sold divided by average inventory.

Business

The number of times a position or job is filled within a company over a period.

High turnover in the department suggests employee dissatisfaction.

High employee turnover in the department suggests dissatisfaction.

💡

Also called 'employee turnover' or 'staff turnover'.

Collocations

high turnovera large amount of sales or frequent job changeslow turnovera small amount of sales or infrequent job changesinventory turnoverhow quickly stock is sold and replaced

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

turn over a new leafidiom
to start behaving better or making positive changes
turn the tablesidiom
to reverse a situation to one's advantage

💡Pro Tip

Business vs. HR Usage

Be mindful of context—'turnover' in finance refers to sales, while in HR it refers to employee retention.

Gold Rule

Financial Context

In accounting, turnover is often calculated before deductions like returns or discounts.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'turnoveren' (to turn over), referring to the rotation of goods or positions.

📝Usage Notes

In British English, 'turnover' is often used synonymously with 'revenue', while in American English, 'revenue' is more common. In HR contexts, it refers to employee retention rates.

Word Breakdown

turn
to rotate or change position
root
+
over
completely or in reverse
prefix
English Dictionary