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 (real property ).

   Synonyms:

   effects, chattel

---

personal property British  

noun

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

---

personal property Cultural  

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

---

Etymology

Origin of personal property

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

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

Its efforts include a proposed ballot measure that would bar retroactive taxes, as well as banning new taxes on personal property, including retirement savings, stocks, bonds and intellectual property.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that raised those payments to 60% of personal property coverage up to $350,000 without the need to submit a detailed inventory if a disaster has been declared.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Liquidators are also exploring whether they can recover cash for creditors from Mr Hui's personal property.

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2025

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