paraphernalia

[ par-uh-fer-neyl-yuh, -fuh-neyl- ]

noun

1. (sometimes used with a singular verb) equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity:

   a skier's paraphernalia.

   Synonyms: trappings

2. (used with a plural verb) personal belongings.

   Synonyms: effects

3. (used with a singular verb) Law. the personal articles, apart from dower, reserved by law to a married woman.

paraphernalia

/ ˌpærəfəˈneɪlɪə /

plural noun

1. miscellaneous articles or equipment
2. law (formerly) articles of personal property given to a married woman by her husband before or during marriage and regarded in law as her possessions over which she has some measure of control

Other Words From

• para·pher·nalian par·a·pher·nal [par-, uh, -, fur, -nl], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraphernalia¹

1470–80; < Medieval Latin paraphernālia ( bona ) a bride's goods, beyond her dowry, equivalent to Late Latin paraphern ( a ) a bride's property (< Greek parápherna, equivalent to para- para- ¹ + phern ( ḗ ) dowry, derivative of phérein to bear ¹ + -a neuter plural noun suffix) + Latin -ālia, noun use of neuter plural of -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraphernalia¹

C17: via Medieval Latin from Latin parapherna personal property of a married woman, apart from her dowry, from Greek, from para- ¹+ phernē dowry, from pherein to carry

Example Sentences

From demonstrations and political paraphernalia on the podium to an athlete defecting at the Games, there’s been a marked increase in political activity in Tokyo over the past few days—but the Olympics have always been political.

From Quartz

Children have found needles and drug paraphernalia in the grass.

From Washington Post

Looking back at all the paraphernalia I've spent money on, I just shake my head and wish I'd known this 30 years ago when I started to grow a mustache.

From Washington Post

Our lab is physically just like an office that has nothing in it except for dog-related paraphernalia and some video cameras.

From Freakonomics

Cropped out of frame are the tangles of wires and extension cords, baskets of laundry to be folded, and growing pile of homeschooling paraphernalia kids accumulate.

From Quartz

I tell him about the Pleasure Chest--a Hollywood shop that sells sexual paraphernalia.

From The Daily Beast

The conversation turned to Elvis when the Duchess mentioned her growing collection of Presley recordings and paraphernalia.

From The Daily Beast

And this impression may be right…granted their children would have needed access to drugs and sex paraphernalia.

From The Daily Beast

Offense V.a: Illegal possession or use of drugs and/or alcohol and/or drug paraphernalia.

From The Daily Beast

Only its wall rifle display and rows of gun paraphernalia give it away.

From The Daily Beast

As all three seemed perfectly willing to let him have their listening paraphernalia, Darry refused.

From Project Gutenberg

But she told them all the helpful things she could about setting up the radio paraphernalia and rigging the wires.

From Project Gutenberg

There was also a small scarlet-coated hunting costume and all the paraphernalia of the chase.

From Project Gutenberg

They carry the kit and camp paraphernalia for the men who go into the jungle sometimes for months.

From Project Gutenberg

Dunham shook his head as he bundled their paraphernalia out of the boat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gear
• machinery
• regalia