have-nots
|have-not|
🇺🇸
/ˈhævˌnɑts/
🇬🇧
/ˈhævˌnɒts/
(have-not)
person without possessions/power
Etymology
'have-not' originates from English, a compound of the verb 'have' and the negative particle 'not', used to denote someone who does not have (something).
'have-not' developed in Modern English as a compound of 'have' (Old English 'habban') and 'not' (Old English 'n01t' / 'n01t'), coming into common socio-economic use in phrases like 'the haves and the have-nots' in the late 19th to early 20th century.
Initially it meant simply 'one who does not have (something)'; over time it acquired a broader socio-economic sense referring specifically to the poor or those without political/economic power.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person or group that lacks wealth, material possessions, or economic power; someone who is poor or disadvantaged.
Many policies seemed to benefit the haves while ignoring the needs of the have-nots.
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Noun 2
a person or group lacking specific social, political, or other forms of power or access (used in contrast with 'the haves').
The debate highlighted the growing divide between the haves and the have-nots in education.
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Last updated: 2026/01/13 18:37