personal effects

plural noun

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

Synonyms of personal effects

• things
• possession
• belongings
• stuff
• personal property
• effects

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

Similar to the vehicle, the bodies and their personal effects remain in extremely good condition. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026

All surfaces, personal effects and equipment must be disinfected. — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

At noon, someone entered Cere Tea in the Westgate Corner shopping center on Prospect Road and stole an employee’s shoulder bag containing personal effects and keys to the business for a loss valued at approximately $195. — Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 June 2026

The arrangements of personal effects at estate sales are memento mori more sobering than any skeleton ever carved into marble. — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for personal effects

• affects
• aspects
• bisects
• collects
• connects
• corrects
• deflects
• detects
• directs
• dissects
• ejects
• elects

Kids Definition

personal effects

plural noun

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