Standard Lemma guide

mayn't

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈmeɪnt/
  • /ˈmeɪ.ənt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪnt
  • rhymes with -eɪənt

1

verb

Meaning 1

may not (negative auxiliary)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, no-past-participle, no-present-participle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From may + -n't.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Māori: kei kore — contraction of "may not", might not
  • Polish: nie można — contraction of "may not", might not
  • Spanish: no poder — contraction of "may not", might not