mustn't
/ˈmʌsnt/
phrase
  1. must not; used to indicate that something is forbidden or, in a tag question, that something is not necessary.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. More at Wordnik
"Mustn't" is fairly common in British English, but pretty rare in American Answer from Crafty-Photograph-18 on reddit.com
🌐
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › mustn't
MUSTN'T Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
mustn't · ˈməs-ᵊnt · : must not · Love words? Need even more definitions? Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!
🌐
Quora
quora.com › Is-using-the-word-“mustnt”-verbally-correct
Is using the word “mustn't” verbally correct? - Quora
It can be used correctly in some context.If there is a prohibition by the authorities regarding doing something, then it can be used i.e. The students mustn’t wear casuals tomorrow.
🌐
EF English Live
englishlive.ef.com › en › blog › language-lab › english-grammar-use-must-mustnt
English Grammar: when to use ‘must’ and ‘mustn’t’ | EF English Live
In this example, the speaker is sure that Sally is the person who took the cookies. Maybe Sally loves cookies or has a history of taking food from the kitchen. Whatever the reason, the speaker has decided that it was Sally who took the cookies. In the opposite situation, we use ‘couldn’t’ or ‘can’t’ instead of ‘mustn’t’. For example:
🌐
Wiktionary
en.wiktionary.org › wiki › mustn't
mustn't - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
(uncommon) must not (negative auxiliary[1]); used to indicate that something is forbidden or, in a tag question, that something is not necessary. You mustn't blame yourself for this tragedy.
Find elsewhere
🌐
Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english › mustnt
MUSTN'T definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Mustn't is the usual spoken form of 'must not'. ... You mustn't tell anybody that we've gone. ... Drag the correct answer into the box.
🌐
Test-English
test-english.com › explanations › a2 grammar explanations › have to, don’t have to, must, mustn’t
have to, don't have to, must, mustn't - Test-English
May 18, 2025 - Must is an auxiliary verb. This means that it has a negative and an interrogative form. Do not use do/did in negatives and questions. We don’t must arrive early. We mustn’t arrive early.
🌐
Woodward English
woodwardenglish.com › home › modal verbs › mustn’t vs. don’t have to
Mustn’t vs. Don’t Have To | Woodward English
October 12, 2018 - Don’t have to means it is not necessary, it is not compulsory, but you have a choice. You have the choice to drink that or not. However Mustn’t is an obligation NOT to do something, in this case NOT to drink that.
Top answer
1 of 5
10

I mustn't X means that it is imperative that I not do X.

I can't X means that it is not possible for me to do X.

Therefore, mustn't is the correct answer.

However, in colloquial speech, people would use the word "can't", since it is implied in the statement that you cannot use your mobile phone without breaking the law.

2 of 5
3

If I had to choose a word from that list I would opt for "mustn't".

Luckily, I don't have to because I would say something completely different, i.e: "Don't use your mobile while driving. It's against the law."

"You mustn't use your mobile phone while you're driving. It's against the law."

The following is a possible scenario:

I am driving in my car with my mother sitting next to me. My mobile rings and instinctively I reach to answer it. My mother looks at me sternly (or with deep concern) and tells me: "You mustn't use your mobile."

I am like a child being told what to do by her parent, in this case her authority is greater than mine. Must is often used by individuals whose authority is greater than ours, (I am simplifying here but it's generally true) and is also used for giving emphatic advice:

"You must take more exercise. Join a gym."

However, can't is also acceptable if the situation changes:

"You can't use your mobile phone while you're driving. It's against the law."

This time I am driving in my car but I have a friend sitting next to me, and (s)he reminds me that I am breaking the law. (S)he does not have any authority over me, we are equal.

We use "can" and "cannot" to talk about having permission to do or not do something.

"I can't use my mobile" can mean I am not allowed; it is not allowed by the police/the law or it is not right thing to do.

Don't have to and needn't both mean that something is unnecessary, they have completely different meanings from can't and mustn't.

can and must

🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/englishlearning › “it mustn’t be true” is wrong ?
r/EnglishLearning on Reddit: “It mustn’t be true” is wrong ?
August 13, 2024 - If someone says, "It mustn't be true", I think it must not be true = it isn't true. That's not the same as it can't be true, in which it is entirely impossible for it to be true. I think I downvoted the comment, I'm not quite sure. I think I understand what they're saying, but I don't think it's correct.
🌐
Stack Exchange
english.stackexchange.com › questions › 304178 › what-does-mustntve-mean
contractions - What does "Mustn't've" mean? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
Yes, this is a double contraction - the must is contracted with both not (giving us mustn't) and have (giving us must've).
🌐
YourDictionary
yourdictionary.com › home › dictionary meanings › mustn't definition
Mustn't Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary
Must not; used to indicate that something is forbidden or, in a tag question, that something is not necessary. If you see a hedgehog, you mustn't touch it.
🌐
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
Using ‘mustn't’ and ‘needn't’ correctly – English Grammar Lesson - YouTube
✅ https://youtu.be/puNo0sxC3VI👉 Check the latest Video - American Idioms I love to use the most?Using ‘mustn't’ and ‘needn't’ correctly – English Grammar L...
Published   June 29, 2015
🌐
Japan Reference
jref.com › home › forum › 日本語 nihongo › 英語勉強フォーラム - learning english
Do Americans use "must" or "must not (mustn't)"? | Japan Reference
January 23, 2020 - Dear American English speakers, do you ever use "must" or "must not (mustn't)"? An American from another language forum says, No one really says mustn’t. Technically the sentence is correct but it’s not current. We would say “don’t open this box yet” or “you shouldn’t open this ...
🌐
Andrew Guild
andrewguild.wordpress.com › 2023 › 09 › 14 › words-mustnt-musnt-musnt
Words: mustn’t, musn’t, mus’n’t
September 14, 2023 - The standard contraction of “must have” is “mustn’t”. mustn’t However, there is also an archaic version, “musn’t”. Wiktionary defines “musn’t” as a “Dated form of mustn’t.” A search of the Trove co…
🌐
YouTube
m.youtube.com › watch
Must or Mustn't | English Grammar for Beginners: Using Modal ...
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world
Published   July 13, 2022
🌐
Englishgrammar
englishgrammar.pro › must-not
must not | mustn’t – English Grammar Profiler
The term “mustn’t” is a contraction of “must not”. It is used to indicate that something is prohibited or not allowed, or to suggest that it is a bad or unacceptable idea.