Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

have-not

American  
[hav-not, -not] / ˈhævˌnɒt, -ˈnɒt /

noun

  1. Usually have-nots. an individual or group that is without wealth, social position, or other material benefits (contrasted with have).


have-not British  

noun

  1. (usually plural) a person or group of people in possession of relatively little material wealth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of have-not

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

One limitation in the current program, they argue, is that EPSCoR grants are rarely large enough to enable have-not institutions to effectively compete against those boasting billion-dollar research programs.

From Science Magazine Jul. 12, 2021

By Mr. Robinson’s calculations, to be a have-not in the current landscape of wealth creation is to eke by with a net worth of a mere $10 million.

From New York Times Apr. 8, 2021

Eventually — I’m hoping around April or May — we’ll lose interest in who’s a have-shot and who’s a have-not.

From Seattle Times Feb. 20, 2021

Yet even in a 2019 season in which TV viewership is on the upswing, there is a big disparity between a handful of have and have-not teams.

From Washington Post Oct. 23, 2019

A knight with a silver suit of armour would immediately call himself a have-not, if he met a knight with a golden one.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training