have-not

noun

ˈhav-ˌnät How to pronounce have-not (audio)
-ˈnät
: one that is poor especially in material wealth

Examples of have-not in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Based on the video game from Bethesda Game Studios, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025 These tensions between the haves and have-nots will continue to escalate, particularly if lower-income Americans feel betrayed by the wealthier class continuing to grow richer. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 Nov. 2025 This is not a problem of haves versus have-nots. Eric Snoey, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025 Financial inequality and the widening gap between the haves and have-nots are big issues for a broad comedy to tackle, but scenes like Arj waiting in line for hours to pick up a rich guy's gourmet donut puts those things into an entertaining perspective. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for have-not

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of have-not was in 1836

Cite this Entry

“Have-not.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have-not. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

have-not

noun
ˈhav-ˌnät
-ˈnät
: one that is poor in material wealth

More from Merriam-Webster on have-not

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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