personal property

American  

noun

Law.

1. an estate or property consisting of movable articles both corporeal, as furniture or jewelry, or incorporeal, as stocks or bonds (distinguished from real property).

   Synonyms:

   effects, chattel

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personal property British  

noun

1. Also called: personalty.  law movable property, such as furniture or money Compare real property

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personal property Cultural  

1. Furniture, automobiles, boats, and other possessions that are not included in the category of real property.

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Etymology

Origin of personal property

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

One of the Brin-backed measures would bar new taxes on personal property, including retirement accounts, intellectual property and financial assets, excluding real estate.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Throughout most of U.S. history, presidential records have been treated as the president’s personal property.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

After four months his drivers license will be suspended and personal property, like a car, could be repossessed, or even be subject to wage garnishment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

A federal judge has found that the city of Los Angeles violated the constitutional rights of homeless people by seizing and destroying their personal property during cleanups.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

When they first arrived, the officers told us, inmates segregated here received no privileges beyond an hour of daily exercise—no reading or writing materials, no personal property.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover