Wont vs Won’t | Difference, Definitions & Use
Won’t and wont are commonly confused words that don’t mean the same thing.
- Won’t is the contraction (short form) of “will not”—you can’t leave out the apostrophe.
- Wont is an adjective meaning “in the habit of” or “accustomed,” or a noun meaning “habit” or “custom.”
| Won’t in a sentence | Wont in a sentence |
|---|---|
| I won’t be at the meeting next week. | He was not known for his modesty and was wont to exaggerate his achievements. |
| Don’t drink all the milk or there won’t be any left for breakfast. | She’s going to be late, as is her wont. |
A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using won’t and wont correctly.
Wont definition
The noun wont is used in the phrase “as is one’s wont” to mean “habit” or “custom.” You can use the phrase with any possessive determiner (e.g., “my” and “their”).
She was late and had to walk a bit faster than is her wont.
Wont is usually pronounced like “want,” but can also be pronounced like “won’t.”
Wont to do
If you are “wont to do” something, you do it frequently (i.e., it is a habit or tendency).
The queen was wont to take long, solitary walks in the countryside.
Won’t meaning
Won’t is the contraction (short form) of “will not,” which can sound overly formal in everyday speech.
However, the contraction “won’t” is not used if the speaker wants to stress the word “not” for emphasis (e.g., to emphasize resolve or determination).
| Won’t in a sentence | Will not in a sentence |
|---|---|
| You’ll call me when you get there, won’t you? | No, I will not apologize because I don’t want to pretend everything’s fine. |
| I won’t see you again before you go, so have a great vacation! | I will not tolerate any more of this behavior! |
Frequently asked questions about wont vs won’t
- How do you spell won’t?
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The correct spelling of won’t is with an apostrophe (i.e., “wont” is incorrect). “Won’t” is the contraction (short form) of “will not.”
Won’t and wont are different words with different meanings.
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up errors in the spelling of commonly confused words such as “won’t” and “wont.”
- Is willn’t a word?
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Willn’t is not a word listed in standard dictionaries.
However, it has been used to spell out a contraction of “will not” used in some spoken dialects of English.
For instance, in chapter eight of the novel Shirely by Charlotte Brontë (1849), which is set in Yorkshire, England, the character William Farren says, “I willn’t do’t. I’m not for shedding blood.”
The standard contraction (short form) of “will not” is won’t (this is sometimes misspelled “wont.” However won’t and wont do not mean the same thing).
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help ensure you’re using “won’t” correctly.
- What are some synonyms for will not?
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Synonyms for will not include:
- Shall not
- Am/is/are not going to
- Do/does not intend to
- Do/does not want to
- Do/does not wish to
- Refuse to
- Do/does not plan to
It’s important to note that the contraction of “will not” is won’t not wont.
Use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help you find the best synonym for “will not” in your specific context.
- Does won’t have an apostrophe?
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Yes, won’t is spelled with an apostrophe (i.e., “wont” is incorrect). “Won’t” is the contraction (short form) of “will not.”
Won’t and wont are different words with different meanings.
You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you pick up errors in the spelling of commonly confused words such as “won’t” and “wont.”
