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

The man put his personal effects on the ground, and Cherry took the man's phone and ran off, prosecutors said. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026

For instance, at one point, Ratner juxtaposes footage of workers removing the Biden family's personal effects from the White House on Inauguration Day with Melania putting her hat on. —Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Others spent months scouring the river for personal effects. —Gary Fields, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Everyday objects, tools, clothing and personal effects are displayed alongside the remains of the vessel, creating a moving portrait of Tudor life at sea. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 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