isn't
Americancontraction
Pronunciation
Isn't is often pronounced in the South Midland and Southern U.S., with , a stop consonant, substituting for , a sibilant. This substitution results from an assimilatory process in which the tip of the tongue, in anticipation of the articulatory position for the following , touches the upper alveolar ridge. This same process gives for wasn't and for business. These pronunciations are heard from speakers on all social levels.
Usage
See contraction.
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.
SINGAPORE—The world’s fastest supercomputer isn’t made in America.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
"This responsibility just isn't taken seriously," he tells me.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
The messy reality is that the line between establishment, moderate, and progressive isn’t always so clear-cut.
From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026
“Their EV isn’t only about price, there’s also a strong personalization element. In Southern California, the boxy, retro look will earn it a lot of attention.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
Joey needs good medical care, but she isn’t a public health hazard.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
