aren't

American  

[ahrnt, ahr-uhnt] / ɑrnt, ˈɑr ənt /

1. contraction of are not.

2. contraction of am not (used interrogatively).

---

aren't British  

/ ɑːnt /

contraction

1. are not

2. informal (used in interrogative sentences) am not

---

Usage

The social unacceptability of ain't, the historical contraction of am not, has created a gap in the pattern of verbal contractions. I'm not, the alternative to I ain't, has no corresponding interrogative form except ain't I. In questions, ain't I is often avoided by the use of aren't I: I'm right, aren't I? Aren't I on the list? This aren't is simply a different outcome of the same historical development that yielded ain't, but the fact that it is spelled and pronounced like the contraction of are not (as in You are staying, aren't you? ) apparently gives it, for some, an acceptability that ain't lacks. The use of aren't I is objected to by others because a declarative counterpart, I aren't, does not exist. Many speakers, however, prefer aren't I to the uncontracted, rather formal am I not. See also ain't, contraction.

Etymology

Origin of aren't

As contraction of am not, a doublet of ain't (without raising of the vowel), spelling aren't by r-less speakers; ar was later substituted for the long a by speakers who regularly pronounce pre-consonantal r

Example Sentences

Sales of things like household appliances that qualify for the government’s goods trade-in programs appear strong, while products that aren’t eligible are doing badly.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, NSB aren't the only state school making an impact.

From BBC

Predictions that it’s curtains for the stock market rally certainly aren’t new.

From Barron's

Popular prediction-market bets, such as political elections and sports matches, aren’t yet sustainable trading businesses, they said.

From Barron's

Predictions that it’s curtains for the stock market rally certainly aren’t new.

From Barron's