isn't

See also: isnt

English

Alternative forms
  • idn't (eye dialect), in't (Northern England, informal) i'n (West Country, slang)

Etymology

is +‎ -n't

Pronunciation
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɪzənt/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɪzənt/, (colloquial) /ˈɪn(t)/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Verb

isn't

  1. Contraction of is not. (negative auxiliary[1])
    • 2013 July-August, Stephen P. Lownie, David M. Pelz, “Stents to Prevent Stroke”, in American Scientist:
      As we age, the major arteries of our bodies frequently become thickened with plaque, a fatty material with an oatmeal-like consistency that builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels. The reason plaque forms isn’t entirely known, but it seems to be related to high levels of cholesterol inducing an inflammatory response, which can also attract and trap more cellular debris over time.

Translations

Noun

isn't (plural isn'ts)

  1. (colloquial, nonstandard) Something or someone that is defined by the lack of the characteristic being discussed.

References
  1. Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513

Anagrams
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