Added 7 October 2026
not
/nɒt/ symbol
In Latin: non, nil, haud Wiktionary
symbol Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about not at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
adverb
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Negates the meaning of the modified verb.
Did you take out the trash? — No, I did not. I do not think it was my turn, was it?
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To no degree.
That is not red; it's green.
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Used to indicate the opposite or near opposite, often in a form of understatement.
That day was not the best day of my life. (meaning the day was bad or awful)
conjunction
interjection
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Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.
I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney … not!
Origin
From Middle English not, nat, a variant of noght, naht (“not, nothing”), from Old English *nōht, nāht (“nought, nothing”), shortening of nōwiht, nāwiht (“nothing”, literally “not anything”), from Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht, corresponding to ne (“not”) + ōwiht, āwiht (“anything”), corresponding to ā (“ever, always”) + wiht (“thing, creature”). Cognate with Scots nat, naucht (“not”), Saterland Frisian nit (“not”), West Frisian net (“not”), Dutch niet (“not”), German nicht (“not”). Compare nought, naught and aught. More at no, wight, whit.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)