oughtn't

English

Etymology

ought +‎ -n't

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːn̩t/, /ˈɔː.tənt/

Contraction

oughtn't

1. (Britain) ought not.
2. (US, Canada, dated, rare) ought not.

Usage notes

Both oughtn't and ought not have become rare in North America. Oughtn't in particular may not be understood.

See also

• oughten
• Appendix:English modal verbs
• Appendix:English tag questions