oughtn't

From ought +‎ -n't.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɔːnt/, /ˈɔː.tənt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɔt.n̩t/, (cot-cought merger) /ˈɑt.n̩t/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːnt, -ɔːtənt, -ɔtn̩t, -ɑtn̩t

oughtn't

1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) (US, Philippines, dated, rare) ought not (negative auxiliary^[1]).

   We ought to wake dad, oughtn't we?

Oughtn't has become rare in North America, and ought not has itself become much less common than it once was there as well.

• can't, couldn't, mayn't, mightn't, shan't, shouldn't, won't, wouldn't

• oughten
• Appendix:English modal verbs
• Appendix:English tag questions