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

After collecting material for DNA confirmation and searching for personal effects— especially that camera—the team covered the body with rocks, the most respectful burial on that frozen ground. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Apr. 2026

Police said four robbers — two of whom have been caught in surveillance images — battered the woman and robbed her of her personal effects. —Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026

When he was finally set free, the man was booted onto the street with no passport, driver’s license or other personal effects. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026

The shelf down below, meanwhile, holds four baskets – one for each occupant's clothes and personal effects. —New Atlas, 26 Mar. 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