What does turnback mean?
A turnback is a section of road, path, or trail that doubles back toward the direction from which one has come. It may provide an alternative route, allow traffic to reverse without entering a larger junction, or mark a sharp change of direction on steep terrain. The word is especially associated with rural tracks, mountain paths, and roads in Britain, although it is also understood in North American English. A turnback is not necessarily a complete reversal of the entire journey: it may simply redirect the route around an obstacle or back toward an earlier point. In descriptions of hiking, cycling, and driving routes, the term is concrete and descriptive. It is closely related in meaning to switchback, though switchback more specifically suggests a sharp or repeated reversal rather than any section that doubles back.
nounA section of road, path, or trail that doubles back in the direction it came, allowing a route to change direction.
- A section of road, path, or trail that doubles back in the direction it came.
- A route or stretch of terrain where the direction of travel is reversed or redirected.
"The trail follows a narrow turnback before climbing steadily toward the ridge."
"At the end of the lane, a turnback leads back toward the village."
"The steep turnback gave the cyclists little room to gain speed."
The plural is uncommon but follows the regular form for countable instances of the route feature.
"Several turnbacks were marked on the mountain map."
A turnback lets a route change direction without abandoning the path altogether.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does turnback come from?
Turnback was formed within English by combining turn with back, both of which are long-established English words. The sense of a route that reverses direction developed from the ordinary meanings of turning and returning. Its wider family includes turn, return, retreat, and revert, although these words arose through different combinations of Germanic and Romance elements.
How turnback is actually used
Most common in British English and in descriptions of roads, tracks, and trails. In North American English, switchback is often the more familiar term for a sharply reversing route.
Easily confused with turnback
A turnback is a road or trail that doubles back, while a turnaround is the space or manoeuvre used to reverse direction.