Meanings
plural Michigan lefts
- An intersection design in which (for countries that drive on the right) left turns are not allowed and vehicles instead proceed past the intersection, make a U-turn, and then make a right turn; the 'turn' made at such an intersection.
Ordinarily, no left turn is allowed at an intersection where a Michigan left is in place. Instead, to turn left onto an intersecting road, it's necessary to continue past the intersection and make a U-turn at the median crossover, double back to your intended street, and finally turn right.
2018 April 3, Paul Vachon, Moon Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Moon Travel, →ISBN, page 2861 more example
Glenn followed Lucky out of the driveway, drove about a mile before taking a Michigan left across the divided highway and pulled into a lighted parking lot. Glenn looked up to see a blinking neon purple sign that read Jon Jon's. Not what he was expecting when Lucky said he knew a quiet little place.
2023 January 12, Joe Spano, Quagmire, AuthorHouse, →ISBN
Origin
So called due to its frequent use in Michigan.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Michigan left. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigan%20left
“Michigan left.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigan%20left. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Michigan left,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Michigan%20left.
Source: Michigan left on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.