personal

[pur-suh-nl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR personal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

noun

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.

Origin of personal

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word persōnālis. See person, -al¹

Related formsper·son·al·ness, nounhy·per·per·son·al, adjectivehy·per·per·son·al·ly, adverbmul·ti·per·son·al, adjectivenon·per·son·al, adjectivenon·per·son·al·ly, adverbqua·si-per·son·al, adjectivequa·si-per·son·al·ly, adverbsu·per·per·son·al, adjectivesu·per·per·son·al·ly, adverbun·per·son·al, adjectiveun·per·son·al·ly, adverb

Can be confusedpersonal personnel (see usage note at personnel)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for personals

myself, character, individuality, person, ego, identity, personality, narcissism, personal, egocentrism, psyche, individual, substantive, individualization, apparel, attire, baggage, belongings, clothes, clothing

Examples from the Web for personals

Contemporary Examples of personals

Three magazine reporters, played by Aubrey Plaza, Jake M. Johnson, and Karan Soni, go to investigate the personals ad for a story.
Mark Duplass, Filmmaker and Star of ‘Safety Not Guaranteed,’ Ready for His Close-Up
Marlow Stern
June 14, 2012

Historical Examples of personals

He was pointing to a paragraph in the "Personals" column of the New York paper.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
Agnes called it the "Agony Column," for the "personals" always headed it.
The Corner House Girls at School
Grace Brooks Hill
She had just finished her personals when she heard the whistle of the morning train.
Helen in the Editor's Chair
Ruthe S. Wheeler
"Read these personals and I will tell you," was the sobbing reply.
Dainty's Cruel Rivals
Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller
But Personals, my dear Star, Personals are the things that pay.
Punchinello Vol. II., No. 30, October 22, 1870
Various

British Dictionary definitions for personals

personal

adjective

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)

noun

law an item of movable property

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 personals

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.