themself
/ð(ə)mˈsɛlf
/pronoun [third person singular]
Used instead of ‘himself’ or ‘herself’ to refer to a person of unspecified sex: the casual observer might easily think themself back in 1945...
- Despite keeping his faith closely guarded, he threw himself into the Hare Krishna movement with the enthusiasm of a college kid who'd just dropped out and then found themself again.
- Anyone who's found themself trying to navigate life's day-to-day reality in a foreign culture will relate to Ko's means of reflecting displacement.
- I hope no-one else ever finds themself in this position.
Usage
The standard reflexive form corresponding to they and them is themselves, as in they can do it themselves. The singular form themself, first recorded in the 14th century, has re-emerged in recent years corresponding to the singular gender-neutral use of they, as in this is the first step in helping someone to help themself. The form is not widely accepted in standard English, however. For more details, see they (usage).