mayn't

American

[mey-uhnt, meynt] / ˈmeɪ ənt, meɪnt /

contraction of may not.

mayn't British

/ meɪnt, ˈmeɪənt /

contraction

may not

"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

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.

Discovering his wife unfaithful, Mr. Sipos says, "I mayn't have an automobile, but I have honor."

From Time Magazine Archive

As H. R. H. passed down the line, one Geoffrey Gill, 15, piped: "Please, Sir, mayn't I have your autograph?"

From Time Magazine Archive

I hope Uncle Pumblechook’s mare mayn’t have set a forefoot on a piece o’ ice, and gone down.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

I may find Sam soon, or I mayn’t; but anyhow he ain’t like to be in a way to tell ye much to-night.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

“Why not? Or mayn’t I ask that, either?”

From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023