if it were not for

prepositional phrase

If a certain condition were not met; used to indicate that a particular person, event, etc. prevented a certain outcome.

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Meanings

prepositional phrase

alternative were it not for · alternative if it had not been for

  1. If a certain condition were not met; used to indicate that a particular person, event, etc. prevented a certain outcome.
Cite this entry
APA

if it were not for. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20were%20not%20for

MLA

“if it were not for.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20were%20not%20for. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if it were not for,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20it%20were%20not%20for.

Source: if it were not for on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.