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; their, -s 1
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.