indefinite pronoun

American  

noun

Grammar.

1. a pronoun, as English some, any, somebody, that leaves unspecified the identity of its referent.

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indefinite pronoun British  

noun

1. grammar a pronoun having no specific referent, such as someone, anybody, or nothing

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Etymology

Origin of indefinite pronoun

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

In the sentence “Everybody has his own opinion,” the indefinite pronoun everybody needs a singular pronoun to refer to it.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Is the subject an indefinite pronoun, such as everyone?

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Quotes attributed to Jefferson that use contractions and "you" as an indefinite pronoun are usually fishy to Anna Berkes, research librarian at the Jefferson Library at Monticello.

From Time • Sep. 22, 2017

The latter is, however, no necessary part of the form, as it is dropped when the verb is governed by a noun, and can always be replaced by prefixing the indefinite pronoun.

From The Philosophic Grammar of American Languages, as Set Forth by Wilhelm von Humboldt With the Translation of an Unpublished Memoir by Him on the American Verb by Brinton, Daniel Garrison

Note 2.—Many numerals, otherwise indeclinable, are used in the genitive plural with the indefinite pronoun sum, which then means one of a certain number.

From Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Exercise Book with Inflections, Syntax, Selections for Reading, and Glossary by Smith, C. Alphonso (Charles Alphonso)