have-not

noun

ˈhav-ˌnät 

-ˈnät

: one that is poor especially in material wealth

Examples of have-not in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the other side of the haves and have-nots equation, states that had been on the upswing as far as production spending and activity only a few years ago have seen dips this quarter, including in Georgia, New Mexico and Illinois. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026

The rift between the haves and have-nots is growing, and there seems to be a growing trend to annihilate people of color. — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 4 July 2026

Historically in Chicago, parent fundraising has been a story of have versus have-not schools, a dynamic threatening to drive deeper inequity in a segregated district. — Mila Koumpilova, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026

Trepidation over what the IPOs will do to affordability in the region is quickly making San Francisco a tale of two cities--one of the stocks-haves and have-nots. — Martine Paris, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

have-not

noun

ˈhav-ˌnät, 

-ˈnät

: one that is poor in material wealth