Note: Common confusion with "it's" in fast drafting.
Its
contraction, det, noun, pron ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
- 1 plural of it form-of, plural
- 2 Initialism of issue tracking system. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 3 Initialism of intelligent transportation system. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism
- 1 Belonging to it.
"The manner wherewith our Lawes assay to moderate the foolish and vaine expences of table-cheare and apparell, seemeth contrarie to it's end."
- 1 The one (or ones) belonging to it.
"… both Houses have resolved to rob the North of a good friend of its and yours."
- 1 Obsolete spelling of it's. alt-of, contraction, obsolete
"As for the main bulk of Palaces, its true ſome have a greatneſs in plainneſs, […]"
Example
More examples"If you don't understand something, it's because you aren't aware of its context."
Etymology
Equivalent to it + -s (possessive marker). From the earlier form it's (it + -'s), which is now considered nonstandard. Began to displace his as the possessive of the neuter pronoun in the Middle English period; had fully displaced it by the 1700s.
Contraction of it + is.
From it + -s (plural suffix).
Related phrases
More for "its"
Editorial Guides For "its"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.