theirs

[thairz]

pronoun

1. a form of the possessive case of plural they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun: Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

   It is theirs.

   Oh, you know Walt and Liz—are you a friend of theirs?

2. a form of the possessive case of singular they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun.

   1. (used to refer to a generic or unspecified person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I have my book—does everyone else have theirs?

   2. (used to refer to a specific or known person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      The child couldn’t say whether or not the coat was theirs.

   3. (used to refer to a nonbinary or gender-nonconforming person previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context).

      I've already gotten my coffee, but Morgan is still waiting to get theirs.

3. that which belongs to them.

   The Joneses don't usually flaunt their money, but theirs is the largest house on the block.

theirs

/ ðɛəz /

pronoun

1. something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them

   theirs is difficult

2. not_standard,  something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody

   everyone thinks theirs is best

3. belonging to or associated with them

Usage

See they.

Word History and Origins

Origin of theirs¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theires, thair(e)s, theres; their, -s ¹

Example Sentences

People can scour the internet for the one person whose political views are most aligned with theirs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some prisoners feared for their own safety, worrying that an attempt on Maxwell’s life could claim theirs instead, other inmates said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Why can baseball and basketball players do their jobs with 60,000 hostile fans cursing at full volume but golfers and tennis players need complete silence to do theirs?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The super rich bought coverage, shaped public opinion and ensured the future was theirs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Russian forces had attacked my home region of Zaporizhzhia again: a region in the south of Ukraine, split between the Russian invaders, who claim it all as theirs, and the defending Ukrainians.

Read more on BBC