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

High margins aren’t unprecedented, though.

From Barron's

There aren’t many ways to invest directly in robot makers in the West yet.

From Barron's

Typically, hedge fund equity and credit strategies aren’t structurally related, and their correlations can significantly diverge.

From Barron's

But that doesn’t mean its broader fundamentals aren’t compelling.

From Barron's

The store was fully stocked, employees were friendly, and it featured a number of amenities that aren’t common at nearby locations, like Target Optical.

From Barron's