/ ˈprəʊnaʊn; NAmE ˈproʊ-/ noun
( grammar ) a word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase, for example he, it, hers, me, them , etc. :
demonstrative / interrogative / possessive / relative pronouns
—see also personal pronoun
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from pro- on behalf of , + noun , suggested by French pronom , Latin pronomen (from pro- for, in place of + nomen name).