Word
pronoun
Phoneticspro·noun, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹoʊnaʊn/
UK/pɹˈəʊnaʊn/
Countable noun
In Japanese
Japanese from JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR. All sources.
Definition
n. a word that takes the place of a noun. You use it so you don't have to keep repeating the same name or object over and over.
n. a word that substitutes for a noun or noun phrase. It functions syntactically like a noun, typically serving to prevent repetition and maintain textual cohesion.
Examples
“The word 'she' is a pronoun that replaces a person's name.”
“Instead of repeating the dog's name in every sentence, the writer used a pronoun to make the paragraph flow better.”
“In languages with complex gender systems, selecting the correct pronoun requires an understanding of both the grammatical category of the antecedent and the social context of the conversation.”
Examples
simple
“The word 'she' is a pronoun that replaces a person's name.”
contextual
“Instead of repeating the dog's name in every sentence, the writer used a pronoun to make the paragraph flow better.”
complex
“In languages with complex gender systems, selecting the correct pronoun requires an understanding of both the grammatical category of the antecedent and the social context of the conversation.”
Real-World Examples
“Deborah Cameron, an Oxford linguistics professor, explains that in traditional grammatical theory, pronouns serve as placeholders—"a piece of language that allows you to refer to something previously mentioned or yet to be stated.” “Ms O'Neill was encouraging a relatively minor tweak: adding a line to an email signature that shares which personal pronoun a person uses - he, she, they or something else entirely - alongside other basics like their phone number.” “The American Dialect Society has named “they” as its word of the decade, recognising the increasing use of third-person plural pronouns as a singular form in reference to gender.” “Using a gender-neutral pronoun, it found, reduces mental biases that favour men, and boosts positive feelings towards women and LGBT people.” Etymology
From pro- + noun, modeled on Middle French pronom, from Latin pronomen, itself a calque of Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ντωνῠμῐ́ᾱ (ăntōnŭmĭ́ā).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 2
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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