# cannot

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkænɒt/ · frequency rank #802

## Definitions
1. Can not; be unable to (whether due to physical inability, logical impossibility, etc).
2. Be forbidden or not permitted to

## Etymology
From can + not.

## Easily confused with
- **cant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-cant)
- **canon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canon)
- **canoe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canoe)
- **canny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canny)
- **canto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canto)
- **canyon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canyon)
- **Connor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-connor)
- **carrot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-carrot)
- **canton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-canton)
- **cantor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannot-vs-cantor)
- **can't** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/can-t-vs-cannot)
- **Cabot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cabot-vs-cannot)
- **cannon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannon-vs-cannot)
- **canned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/canned-vs-cannot)
- **Cannes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cannes-vs-cannot)
- **candor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/candor-vs-cannot)

## Common misspellings (7)
`acnnot`, `cannott`, `cannto`, `canont`, `canot`, `ccannot`, `cnanot`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cannot