# turf

/ˈtɝf/ (US) · /tˈɜːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turf
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. grass and soil

noun · CEFR B2

a layer of earth with grass growing on it.

For teachers: the surface layer of land consisting of grass and the network of roots and soil beneath it.

- The gardener laid fresh turf to fix the brown patches in the lawn.
- After the heavy rains, the groundskeeper had to replace several sections of turf that had been churned into mud during the match.

### 2. territory

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

the area or subject that a person or group considers their own.

For teachers: a territory or sphere of influence claimed by a specific individual or group, often defended against outsiders.

- The local gang warned the newcomers to stay off their turf.
- The marketing department felt the new digital strategy was an intrusion onto their turf by the IT team.

### 3. horse racing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the sport of horse racing, or the track where horses race.

For teachers: the sport of horse racing; specifically, a grass track as opposed to a dirt or synthetic one.

- He spent his weekends at the turf, betting on the local races.
- The champion horse performed significantly better on the turf than it did on the artificial all-weather surfaces.

Usage: Usually used with 'the' (the turf).

### 4. to force someone out

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

to force someone to leave a place or a job.

For teachers: to expel or eject someone from a position, location, or organisation.

- He was turfed out of the club for starting a fight.
- The board decided to turf the CEO out after the company's shares plummeted for the third consecutive quarter.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'out' (turf out).

## Examples

- The local gang is very protective of their turf.
- The marketing department felt the new sales strategy was an invasion of their turf.
- While the two companies initially collaborated on the project, they soon began to argue over their respective turf, leading to a breakdown in communication and a delay in the product launch.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.