-n't

/(ə)nt/

suffix

Negates the meaning of the clause in which it occurs.

“It is a beautiful bouquet! You needn't've bothered, thank you.”

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Meanings

suffix

alternative obsolete -'nt

  1. idiomaticunless humorousNegates the meaning of the clause in which it occurs.

    It is a beautiful bouquet! You needn't've bothered, thank you.

Origin

From both univerbations of not and some preceding words (see usage notes), with following elision of the medial vowel, as well as univerbations of already reduced n't with preceding words.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

-n't. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-n't

MLA

“-n't.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-n't. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-n't,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-n't.

Source: -n't on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.