theirs
Americanpronoun
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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?
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a form of the possessive case of singular they used as a predicate adjective, after a noun or without a noun.
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(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?
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(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.
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(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.
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that which belongs to them.
The Joneses don't usually flaunt their money, but theirs is the largest house on the block.
pronoun
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something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them
theirs is difficult
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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
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belonging to or associated with them
Usage
See they.
Etymology
Origin of theirs
First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English theires, thair(e)s, theres; see origin at their, -s 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now two—Cornyn and Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy—have lost theirs.
From Slate • May 30, 2026
It’s a small addition, but one that makes people ask why your version tastes better than theirs.
From Salon • May 28, 2026
It’s filmmaker Kantemir Balagov’s fault more than theirs.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Builders say that the claims reflect a tiny fraction of homes and that errors are typically subcontractors’ fault, not theirs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
At night, however, the apartment was theirs, and it was a place where Fabyan couldn’t interfere in their lives.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
