language note: Theirs is the third person plural possessive pronoun.
1. pronoun
You use theirs to indicate that something belongs or relates to the group of people, animals, orthings that you are talking about.
There was a big group of a dozen people at the table next to theirs.
It would cost about £3000 to install a new heating system in a flat such as theirs.
Theirs had been a happy and satisfactory marriage.
2. pronoun
You use theirs instead of 'his or hers' to indicate that something belongs or relates to a person withoutsaying whether that person is a man or a woman.
If someone wanted it, it would be theirs for the taking.
English Easy Learning GrammarPossessive pronounsPossessive pronouns are used when you want to indicate who owns or is associated withan item. All those books are hers. Those suitcases are ours. Are ... Read more
theirs in British English
(ðɛəz)
pronoun
1.
something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with them
theirs is difficult
2. not standard
something or someone belonging to or associated in some way with an indefinite antecedent such as one, whoever, or anybody
everyone thinks theirs is best
3. of theirs
theirs in American English
(ðɛrz)
pronoun
that or those belonging to them
the possessive form of they
Word origin
ME theires < theyr (see their) + -es by analogy with his, his
Examples of 'theirs' in a sentence
theirs
My three daughters studied hard to get theirs and these people are handed them with no effort.
The Sun (2016)
They think other people manage theirs more easily.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
People bring me theirs to train for them.
The Sun (2011)
It makes people think theirs is a difficult job.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then it's theirs to do something with.
Christianity Today (2000)
You have made your choice and the British people will make theirs.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Having to watch other people go about theirs, that is what.
The Sun (2014)
Help working people keep theirs.
The Sun (2008)
The last time I wore something of theirs they emailed to say thank you.
The Sun (2014)
In the end I had to buy something in the shopping centre to be allowed to use theirs.
The Sun (2013)
She also said: 'I talk about my hopes and fears and ask people about theirs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People wearing theirs after a workout, to the office or to brunch, are the norm.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It's almost as if there's some sort of connection between them making lots of money while other people are having theirs taken away.
The Sun (2013)
Just over half of people eat theirs around a table at home, while six per cent will be in front of the TV.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
theirs
British English: theirs /ðɛəz/ PRONOUN
You use theirs to say that something belongs to a group of people, animals, or things.
The house next to theirs was empty.
American English: theirs
Arabic: مِلْكُهُم
Brazilian Portuguese: seu
Chinese: 他们的
Croatian: njihov
Czech: jejich
Danish: deres
Dutch: van hen
European Spanish: suyo ellos
Finnish: heidän
French: le leur
German: ihrer
Greek: δικός τους
Italian: il loro
Japanese: 彼らのもの
Korean: 그들의 것
Norwegian: deres
Polish: ich
European Portuguese: seu
Romanian: al
Russian: их
Latin American Spanish: suyo
Swedish: dess
Thai: ของเขาทั้งหลาย
Turkish: onlarınki
Ukrainian: їхній
Vietnamese: của họ
Chinese translation of 'theirs'
theirs
(ðɛəz)
pron
(of men, boys, mixed group) 他们(們)的 (tāmen de)
(of women, girls) 她们(們)的 (tāmen de)
(of animals) 它们(們)的 (tāmen de)
(= his or hers) 他/她的 (tā/tā de)
⇒ I don't know whose handkerchief it is. Somebody must have left theirs.我不知道那是谁的手帕。一定是谁把它落在这儿了。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào nà shì shuí de shǒupà.Yīdìng shì shuí bǎ tā là zài zhèr le.)
it's theirs是他们(們)/她们(們)的 (shì tāmen/tāmen de)
a friend of theirs他们(們)/她们(們)的一个(個)朋友 (tāmen/tāmen de yī gè péngyou)