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Definition of them

them

/ðɛm/
them
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them Lexical Profile

them Game Scores & Validity

• pronoun

1

Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to two or more people, animals, or things previously mentioned or easily identified.

Example

"The teacher handed the graded assignments back to them at the end of the seminar."

2

Used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to a single person of unspecified gender, or to a specific individual whose gender identity is non-binary.

Example

"If any student needs extra time on the exam, please ask them to speak with the proctor beforehand."

Antonyms
View all antonyms for them

Word Nuance & Usage

The singular use of "them" to refer to an unspecified individual or a person who identifies as non-binary has centuries of precedent in English literature and is widely accepted in modern standard usage. However, using "them" as a demonstrative determiner in place of "those" (e.g., "pass me them books") is strictly non-standard and dialectal.

• Rhymes for them

• Nearby Words

theist
theistic
thelesperma
them
thematic
thematically
thematics

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English around 1200 from Old Norse "þeim" (dative plural of "sá", meaning "that"), gradually replacing the native Old English objective pronoun "hem" to avoid confusion with the singular "him".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Them. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/them
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