# he or she

idiom · CEFR A1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/he-or-she
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

A phrase you use to talk about one person when you don't know if that person is a man or a woman.

## Examples

- If a student needs help, he or she should ask the teacher.
- When a customer enters the store, he or she must show a valid ID to the clerk.
- The committee will select a candidate based on merit, regardless of whether he or she has prior experience in the field.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.