personal effects

plural noun

: privately owned items (such as clothing and jewelry) normally worn or carried on the person

Synonyms

• belongings
• chattels
• duds
• effects
• gear
• goods
• holdings
• movables
• moveables
• paraphernalia
• personal property
• personalty
• plunder [chiefly dialect]
• possession
• stuff
• things

Examples of personal effects in a Sentence

put all of your personal effects in the bin so that they can be x-rayed

Recent Examples on the Web

Late last month, Bahamian cops found Casey’s cellphone in the ocean and located her journal and other personal effects near the yoga retreat. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 3 July 2024

From the island of St. Lucia south to Grenada, streets were littered with parts of trees and personal effects, the Associated Press reported. —Susan Miller, USA TODAY, 2 July 2024

My question is: What does somebody do with these personal effects? —Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 8 June 2024

Hickson’s personal effects were found on Mine Hill Beach in Roxbury, and Morris County authorities worked with New Jersey State Police to search the area. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

personal effects

plural noun

: privately owned items (as clothing or jewelry) normally worn or carried on the person