# their

/ˈðɛɹ/ (US) · /ðˈeə/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Determiner

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/their
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

belonging to or connected with a group of people, animals, or things that you have already mentioned. You use it to show that something is owned by them.

For teachers: the possessive form of the third-person plural pronoun 'they', used to indicate ownership or association. It is also increasingly used as a gender-neutral singular possessive to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant.

## Examples

- The children are playing with their new toys in the garden.
- The neighbors asked if we could watch their dog while they are away on vacation next week.
- While the committee members expressed diverse opinions during the debate, they eventually reached a consensus and submitted their final report to the board for review.

## Usage notes

- A possessive determiner that must be followed by a noun or noun phrase.

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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.