personal
[pur-suh-nl]
- of, relating to, or coming as from a particular person; individual; private: a personal opinion.
- relating to, directed to, or intended for a particular person: a personal favor; one's personal life; a letter marked “Personal.”
- intended for use by one person: a personal car.
- referring or directed to a particular person in a disparaging or offensive sense or manner, usually involving character, behavior, appearance, etc.: personal remarks.
- making personal remarks or attacks: to become personal in a dispute.
- done, carried out, held, etc., in person: a personal interview.
- pertaining to or characteristic of a person or self-conscious being: That is my personal belief.
- of the nature of an individual rational being.
- pertaining to the body, clothing, or appearance: personal cleanliness.
- provided for one's discretionary use: Employees are allowed 15 vacation days and two personal days.
- Grammar.
- noting person: In Latin portō “I carry,” -ō is a personal ending.
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the personal pronoun, as English I, we, you, he, she, it, and they.
- Law. of or relating to personal property: personal interests.
Show More
- a short news paragraph in a newspaper concerning a particular person, as one who is socially prominent, or a group of particular persons who are socially prominent.
- a brief, private notice in a newspaper or magazine, often addressed to a particular person, and typically bearing an abbreviated salutation and signature to preserve its confidentiality, usually printed in a special part of the classified advertising section.
- Also called personal ad.a similar notice, as in a newspaper or on a website, placed by a person seeking companionship, a spouse, etc.
- Usually personals.a column, page, or section, as of a newspaper, magazine, or website, featuring such notices or items.
Show More
Origin of personal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for personal
Contemporary Examples
And, as Gow adds wryly from his own personal experience, “To a huge extent they achieved that aim very well.”
Michael Steinbrick, a personal trainer with New York Sports Clubs, says he can always spot a newbie.
Marrying another Jew was not just a personal simcha (joy), but one for the community.
It was hard not to take it as a sign, a personal comment on my own Jewish dating failings.
“Personal hotspots can get speeds of up to 60 Mb/s down, whereas hotel Wi-Fi can be as slow as 1.5 Mb/s,” Sesar said.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi SecurityKyle Chayka
December 31, 2014
Historical Examples
He had no right in his high capacity to indulge a personal affection.
But, speakin' personal, this trail looks more and more interestin' to me.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
Agony by agony, something is gained, and my personal agony counts with the rest.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
I don't like to be personal though, so we'll change the subject.
Life in LondonEdwin Hodder
Demonstration must be personal before we can make anything our own.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
personal
- of or relating to the private aspects of a person's lifepersonal letters; a personal question
- (prenominal) of or relating to a person's body, its care, or its appearancepersonal hygiene; great personal beauty
- belonging to or intended for a particular person and no-one elseas a personal favour; for your personal use
- (prenominal) undertaken by an individual himselfa personal appearance by a celebrity
- referring to, concerning, or involving a person's individual personality, intimate affairs, etc, esp in an offensive waypersonal remarks; don't be so personal
- having the attributes of an individual conscious beinga personal God
- of or arising from the personalitypersonal magnetism
- of, relating to, or denoting grammatical person
- law of or relating to movable property, such as moneyCompare real 1 (def. 8)
Show More
- law an item of movable property
Show More
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for personal
adj.
late 14c., "pertaining to the self," from Old French personal (12c., Modern French personnel), from Late Latin personalis "pertaining to a person," from Latin persona (see person). Meaning "aimed at some particular person" (usually in a hostile manner) first attested 1610s. The noun sense of "newspaper item about private matters" is attested from 1888. As "a classified ad addressed to an individual," it is recorded from 1861. Personal computer is from 1976.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper