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Definition their in British English

their determiner

determiner
/ðeə(r)/

Their is used as a possessive determiner (followed by a noun), being a possessive form of they.

Don’t confuse their (the possessive form of ‘they’) and there (a pronoun and adverb). These two words sound exactly the same.

✗ In a democracy, people have the power to decide there own future.

✓ In a democracy, people have the power to decide their own future.

✗ Most women didn’t work and were dependent on there husbands.

✓ Most women didn’t work and were dependent on their husbands.

1

belonging to or relating to a particular group of people or things that have already been mentioned or when it is obvious which ones you are referring to

Example

Workers are afraid that they will lose their jobs.

Example

She has made a study of chemical fertilizers and their effect on the environment.

Example

They have children of their own.

Synonyms and related words
2

used instead of 'his or her', especially when you are referring back to a word such as 'everyone', 'someone', or 'anyone'. Many people consider this use incorrect

Example

Everyone has their own way of doing things.

Synonyms and related words
Definition their in British English

Related Words

Words related to their:

at worst (phrase) someone at their own game (phrase) someone (to) within an inch of their life (phrase) bless (phrase) bring someone/something to their knees (phrase) everyone has their price (phrase) the wits out of someone (phrase) give someone a (good) run for their money (phrase) give someone a of their own medicine (phrase) give someone the fright of their life (phrase) give someone their head (phrase) have moments (phrase) in all etc glory (phrase) in wisdom (phrase) in its/their entirety (phrase) in their (phrase) keep someone on their toes (phrase) knock someone off their pedestal (phrase) leave someone to their own devices (phrase) let someone stew (in their own juice) (phrase) no one in their right mind would do something (phrase) put someone at (their) ease (phrase) put someone off their stride (phrase) put someone off their stroke (phrase) put someone out of their misery (phrase) send someone off with a flea in their ear (phrase) someone couldn’t believe their ears (phrase) someone has made their bed, and they must lie/sleep in it (phrase) someone likes the sound of their own voice (phrase) someone would give you the shirt off their back (phrase) someone would turn in their grave (phrase) someone’s bark is worse than their bite (phrase) someone’s eyes are bigger than their (phrase) sweep someone off their feet (phrase) take someone at their word (phrase) the etc of kind (phrase) their (determiner) to give someone their due (phrase) walk someone off their feet (phrase)