personal effects
Americanplural noun
Etymology
Origin of personal effects
First recorded in 1835–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“But to me, it also seems like it’s somewhat intentional. Because why wouldn’t you as an agency, provide people their their personal documents or personal effects when they get released?”
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2026
After receiving the report from the mountaineers, officers reached the site by helicopter to collect the remains and personal effects from the Ober Gabelhorn glacier.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
Under that water, buildings, statuary, coins and royal personal effects came to rest, and waited to be found.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025
She knew she would eventually resume teaching, but everything inside her classroom — personal effects, teaching tools and supplies — was gone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2025
Rat Kiley went through the kid’s pockets, placed his personal effects in a plastic bag, taped the bag to Kiowa’s wrist, then used the radio to call in a dustoff.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
