if not

conjunction

Indicates that a statement is true in the event that a condition is not satisfied.

“The plant will die if not watered.”

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Meanings

conjunction
  1. plain literal senseIndicates that a statement is true in the event that a condition is not satisfied.

    The plant will die if not watered.

  2. Indicates that one statement at least is true, and possibly a second, stronger statement is true; perhaps even.

    He did as well as expected, if not better.

    1 more example

    People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?

    2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times
  3. Indicates that one statement is true, but a second is not; but not.

    I saw that he had improved his manners if not his scruffy appearance.

Cite this entry
APA

if not. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20not

MLA

“if not.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20not. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if not,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20not.

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