they

- definition

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pronoun

/ðeɪ/

They is used as the subject of a verb: They killed him.

In formal English they can also be used after the verb ‘to be’, especially before a relative clause: It is they who are telling lies.

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Usage note

1
used for referring to a group of people or things that have already been mentioned or that are already known about
I phoned her parents because I knew they were worried.
It’s hard to choose. They’re all very nice.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of they
2
used instead of ‘he or she’, especially when you are referring back to a word such as ‘everyone’, ‘someone’, or ‘anyone’
We should give everyone a chance to say what they think.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of they
3
used for referring to people in general
they say/call/think etc:
They used to call her ‘the Iron Lady’.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of they
4
used for referring to a government, an organization, or a group of people in authority
They’re going to ban smoking in public places.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of they

See also

Usage note: they

In spoken English, they, them, their, and themselves are used by many people for referring to a person without mentioning whether the person is male or female, especially when referring back to a pronoun such as ‘everyone’ or ‘someone’: What happens if someone changes their mind?

In more formal English, ‘he or she’, ‘him or her’, or ‘himself or herself’ are used instead.

This is the British English definition of they. View American English definition of they.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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