ain't

contraction

ˈānt 

1

: am not : are not : is not

2

: have not : has not

Is ain't a word?: Usage Guide

Although widely disapproved as nonstandard, and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis.

the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing, ain't funny anymore

—Richard Schickel

I am telling you—there ain't going to be any blackmail

—R. M. Nixon

It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style.

the creative process ain't easy

—Mike Royko

This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases.

well—class it ain't

—Cleveland Amory

for money? say it ain't so, Jimmy!

—Andy Rooney

you ain't seen nothing yet

that ain't hay

two out of three ain't bad

if it ain't broke, don't fix it

In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It has also long been commonly used in popular songs, both for metrical reasons and for the informal tone it conveys.

Ain't She Sweet

It Ain't Necessarily So

Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.

Examples of ain't in a Sentence

It's a free country, ain't it?

Those people ain't got a clue.

Her husband left and she ain't never been the same.

Word History

Etymology

contraction of are not

First Known Use

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ain't

• faint
• feint
• maint
• paint
• plaint
• quaint
• saint
• taint
• acquaint
• complaint
• constraint
• distraint

Kids Definition

ain't

(ˈ)ānt 

1

a

: are not

b

: is not

c

: am not

2

a

: have not

b

: has not

—used by many educated speakers and writers in certain set phrases (as "two out of three ain't bad" or "and that ain't hay") and to catch attention but more common in less educated speech