The their meaning is simple at its core: “their” is a possessive pronoun used to show that something belongs to more than one person, or to a person whose gender isn’t specified. It’s one of the most commonly used words in English, and also one of the most commonly misspelled in texts and social posts because it sounds identical to “there” and “they’re.”
This guide covers the full their meaning, including how it works as both a plural and singular pronoun, how to stop confusing it with its sound-alikes, real examples from texting and social media, and the mistakes that trip up even confident writers. By the end, you won’t second-guess which one to use again.
Table of Contents
Their Meaning: The Full Definition
“Their” is a possessive pronoun, meaning it shows ownership or association. It answers the question “whose?” — as in, something belongs to them.
There are two main uses worth understanding:
- Plural possessive — “The students packed their bags.” (belonging to more than one person)
- Singular, gender-neutral possessive — “Someone left their phone here.” (referring to one person whose gender is unknown or unspecified)
That second use — often called “singular they/their” — has actually been used in English for centuries, long before it became a common talking point online. Shakespeare used it. Jane Austen used it. It’s not a modern invention, even though it gets treated like one in some grammar debates.
Their vs. There vs. They’re: The Confusion Explained
This is where most competitor pages fall short — they explain “their” in isolation without addressing why people actually search for it: because it constantly gets mixed up with two words that sound exactly the same.
| Word | Part of Speech | What It Means | Example |
| Their | Possessive pronoun | Shows ownership by them | “That’s their car.” |
| There | Adverb / pronoun | Refers to a place or introduces a sentence | “The keys are over there.” |
| They’re | Contraction | Short for “they are” | “They’re coming over later.” |
A quick trick that actually works: if you can replace the word with “they are,” it’s “they’re.” If you can replace it with “his,” “her,” or “its” to show ownership, it’s “their.” If neither works and you’re talking about a location, it’s “there.”
Where the Word “Their” Comes From
“Their” comes from Old Norse “þeirra,” brought into English through Norse influence during the medieval period, eventually replacing older Old English possessive forms. It’s part of a broader group of pronouns — they, them, their, theirs — that all evolved from the same Norse root.
The singular usage isn’t a recent grammatical shortcut either. Historical records show “their” being used to refer to a single person of unspecified gender as far back as the 1300s, which is worth knowing since some people assume it’s a purely modern shift in language.
How “Their” Is Used in Real Sentences
- “Everyone should bring their own laptop to the meeting.”
- “The team celebrated their win all weekend.”
- “Someone forgot their umbrella at the coffee shop.”
- “My neighbors just repainted their fence.”
- “Each employee has their own login.”
- “The kids left their shoes by the door.”
- “If a customer has a complaint, direct their call to support.”
- “That’s their decision to make, not ours.”
Notice how the singular examples (“someone,” “each employee,” “a customer”) avoid awkward phrasing like “his or her,” which is exactly why singular “their” has stuck around so persistently in everyday English.
Common Mistakes People Make With “Their”
- Mixing it up with “there” in fast texting. Autocorrect doesn’t always catch this since all three words are spelled correctly — just used wrong.
- Avoiding singular “their” out of habit. Many writers still default to “his or her” unnecessarily, even though singular “their” is grammatically accepted by most major style guides today.
- Overcorrecting in formal writing. Some style guides still prefer avoiding singular “their” in very formal contexts, so it’s worth checking specific style requirements for professional or academic writing.
- Using “their” for a single, known-gender person incorrectly out of habit. If gender is known and specified, standard practice is still to use “his” or “her” unless the person specifies otherwise.
“Their” in Texting and Social Media
Because “their,” “there,” and “they’re” are homophones, they’re some of the most frequently swapped words in fast typing, especially on mobile keyboards where autocorrect won’t flag a wrong-but-correctly-spelled word.
| Platform | Common Mix-Up Pattern |
| Group texts | Fast typing leads to “there” used instead of “their” without anyone noticing |
| Instagram captions | Wrong usage often goes uncorrected since captions aren’t proofread carefully |
| Twitter/X | Character limits sometimes lead to rushed, unedited posts with mixed-up homophones |
| TikTok comments | Quick typing on mobile keyboards makes the mix-up extremely common |
| Work Slack/emails | More noticeable errors here since professional writing gets scrutinized more |
If you’ve ever typed a caption fast and later noticed “there” should have been “their,” you’re in good company — it’s one of the most common typing slips in casual writing.
Quick Summary: Their Meaning at a Glance
| Question | Quick Answer |
| What is the their meaning? | A possessive pronoun showing something belongs to more than one person, or to a person of unspecified gender |
| Is singular “their” grammatically correct? | Yes, it’s accepted by most major style guides and has centuries of historical use |
| How is it different from “there”? | “There” refers to a place or introduces a sentence, not ownership |
| How is it different from “they’re”? | “They’re” is a contraction of “they are,” not a possessive |
| Where does the word come from? | Old Norse, entering English during the medieval period |
FAQs About Their Meaning
What is the their meaning in a sentence? It shows possession — that something belongs to more than one person, or to a person whose gender isn’t specified.
Is it correct to use “their” for one person? Yes, singular “their” is grammatically accepted for referring to a person of unspecified or unknown gender, and has been used this way for centuries.
What’s the difference between their, there, and they’re? “Their” shows ownership, “there” refers to a place, and “they’re” is short for “they are.”
Why do people confuse “their” with “there”? Because they’re homophones — they sound identical but have completely different meanings and spellings.
Is singular “their” a new trend in English? No, it dates back to at least the 1300s and has been used by writers like Shakespeare and Jane Austen long before recent grammar discussions.
Can I use “their” in formal writing? Yes, most major style guides now accept singular “their,” though some very formal or academic contexts may still prefer alternatives depending on specific style requirements.
How can I remember which word to use? Try substituting “they are” — if it fits, use “they’re.” If you’re showing ownership, use “their.” If you mean a location, use “there.”
Does autocorrect fix their/there/they’re mistakes? Not usually. Since all three are correctly spelled words, autocorrect typically won’t flag using the wrong one in a sentence.
Is “their” only used for people? No, it can also refer to groups, organizations, or even objects and animals when possession is implied, such as “the company updated their policy.”
Why does “their” show up so often in texting mistakes? Because fast typing and mobile keyboards make it easy to type the wrong homophone without noticing, especially in casual messages that aren’t proofread.
