aren't

[ ahrnt, ahr-uhnt ]

1. contraction of are not.
2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).

aren't

/ ɑːnt /

contraction of

1. are not
2. informal.
   used in interrogative sentences am not

Usage Note

The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you? ) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. ain't, contraction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aren't¹

As contraction of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r

Example Sentences

But tariffs aren't necessarily a cure-all.

From Salon

They aren't the only online stars to take their own big-money game show to a conventional streaming platform instead of putting it on YouTube.

From BBC

"These are mostly capabilities that are approaching retirement anyway, have been at low levels of readiness or aren’t worth further refits or investment," said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.

From BBC

Genes aren't the sole driver instructing cells to build multicellular structures, tissues, and organs.

From Science Daily

Prices aren't soaring at the rate seen over recent times.

From BBC