Definition of "they"

they¹

/ðeɪ/

pronoun
third-person, nominative case, usually plural, sometimes singular, objective case them, possessive their, possessive noun theirs, reflexive themselves, or reflexive singular themself
1. (the third-person plural nominative) A group of entities previously mentioned.
  Quotations
  […] purſued his vnneighbourly purpoſe in ſuch ſort: that hee being the ſtronger perſwader, and ſhe (belike) too credulous in beleeuing or elſe ouer-feeble in reſiſting, from priuate imparlance, they fell to action; and continued their cloſe fight a long while together, vnſeene and vvithout ſuſpition, no doubt to their equall ioy and contentment.
  1620, Giovanni Bocaccio, translated by John Florio, The Decameron, Containing an Hundred Pleaſant Nouels: Wittily Diſcourſed, Betweene Seuen Honourable Ladies, and Three Noble Gentlemen‎, Isaac Iaggard, Nouell 8, The Eighth Day
  There is no reason to be scared of iguanas. They do not attack humans.
  2010, Iguana Invasion!: Exotic Pets Gone Wild in Florida, page 9
2. (the third-person singular nominative, occasionally proscribed) A single person, previously mentioned, but typically not if previously named and identified as male or female, especially if of unknown or (since 21st century) non-binary gender.
  Quotations
  Then shalt thou bring forth that man, or that woman (which haue committed that wicked thing) vnto thy gates, euen that man, or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones till they die.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Deuteronomy 17:5
  Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione.
  1997, J. K. Rowling, chapter 10, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, (quoted edition: London: Bloomsbury, 2000, page 187)
  One thing a nominee earns is the right to pick the vice president that they think will best reflect their vision of the country, and I am just glad I will have nothing to do with it.
  2008, Michelle Obama, quoted in Lisa Rogak, Michelle Obama in Her Own Words, New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2009. page 18
  The boycott, led by Elisha Lim, of a Toronto gay and lesbian newspaper after it refused to use their preferred pronoun ["they"], citing grammar considerations, inspired me.
  2014, Ivan E. Coyote, Rae Spoon, Gender Failure
  I'm angry that we're here again, that we have had to tell another mother that their child is dead.
  2015 April, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (mayor of Baltimore), commenting on the death of Freddie Gray
3. (indefinite pronoun, vague meaning) People; some people; people in general; someone, excluding the speaker.
  Quotations
  I am beautiful, no matter what they say
  2002, Linda Perry (lyrics and music), “Beautiful”, in Stripped, performed by Christina Aguilera
4. (bridge) The opponents of the side which is keeping score.
determiner
1. (now Southern England dialect or nonstandard) The, those.
  Quotations
  "They rooks as you see [...] only coom a few year agoo."
  1878, Louis John Jennings, Field Paths and Green Lanes, quoting an old East Sussex man
  Darn'd if they Cockney Chaps can zee there worn't nort but lie in him.
  1883, Judy, or the London serio-comic journal‎, volume 33, Harvard University
  page 21: "But you spile [spoil] they gals - they won't be for no good, they won't."page 30: "'Twas all about they rewks [rooks]," he sobbed.page 54: "mucking the place up with they weeds"
  1895, Under the Chilterns: A Story of English Village Life
  "Bodies and souls," she cried, "if I didn't reckon to have hidden they boots safe from un in the stick-rick." "Off wi' they tight-wasted shoes o' yours, Martha."
  1901, Gwendoline Keats (of Devon), Tales of Dunstáble Weir, page 55
  Forty quid a fuckin ticket. No shy they British Rail cunts, ah kin fuckin tell ye.
  1994 , Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, London: Minerva, page 114
2. (US dialects, including African-American Vernacular) Their.
  Quotations
  MARY ELLEN is a different case from the others. She has five children and, she claims: "I don't know who they father is. I ain't never kept track. They is always another one. You know, I can catch me a guy[.]"
  1974, Arthur Hippler, Hunter's Point: a black ghetto in America, page 88
  But all they kids be listenin' to me religiously / So I'm signin' CDs while police fingerprint me
  2002, Eminem, Sing for the Moment
  I got bitches askin' me about the code for the Wi-Fi / So they can talk about they timeline / And show me pictures of they friends
  2015, “Energy”, in If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, performed by Drake
  He guessed one of the well-off people living in these houses must have took a shine to Cody and decided how he'd look good stuck up on they roof.
  2016, Alan Moore, Jerusalem, Liveright, published 2016, page 175

they²

/ðeɪ/

pronoun
1. (US dialectal) There (especially as an expletive subject of be).
  Quotations
  They’s music in the twitter of the bluebird and the jay.
  1889, James Whitcomb Riley, Pipes o' Pan
  MARY ELLEN is a different case from the others. She has five children and, she claims: "I don't know who they father is. I ain't never kept track. They is always another one. You know, I can catch me a guy[.]"
  1974, Arthur Hippler, Hunter's Point: a black ghetto in America, page 88
  They ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.
  2000, Janice Giles, Hill Man, page 58
  But they ain’t nothin’ in there you didn’t already have.
  2008, Christian Carvajal, Lightfall, page 82
  Well, they’s a lot of ‘em didn’t survive, if you believe me.
  2010, Alessandro Portelli, They Say in Harlan County: An Oral History, page 207

Definition of "they"

they1

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determiner

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they2

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they¹

they²