Belongings: meaning, definitions and examples

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belongings

[bɪˈlɒŋɪŋz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

personal items

Belongings refer to the things that a person owns or has with them, typically carried in a bag or suitcase. They can include clothes, accessories, documents, and other personal items.

Synonyms

goods, possessions, property.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
belongings	Used to refer to personal items that someone owns, especially small, portable things. She packed all her belongings into a suitcase. Make sure you have all your belongings before leaving the train.
possessions	Generally refers to all items someone owns, but it can have a broader meaning than 'belongings,' encompassing both small items and larger, more valuable assets. He lost many of his possessions in the fire. They moved all their possessions to the new house.
property	Used in a legal or formal context to refer to something owned, especially land, buildings, or large items. It can also refer to characteristics of an entity. They decided to sell the family property and move abroad. The notebook is university property, please return it.
goods	Used in a commercial context to refer to merchandise or items for sale. This term is also used in a legal context to refer to articles of trade or personal property. The store has a wide variety of goods for sale. The shipment of goods arrived yesterday.

Examples of usage

My belongings were scattered all over the room.
She packed her belongings and left the house.
He lost his passport and other belongings while traveling.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

household items

Belongings can also refer to the items that are part of a household, such as furniture, appliances, and decorations.

Synonyms

household goods, personal effects.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
belongings	This term is used to refer to the items that someone owns, typically items that a person can carry with them. It's a broad term that encompasses both personal and household items. Please make sure you have all your belongings before you leave the bus. She packed her belongings into a suitcase and left.
household goods	This term specifies the items that are used within a home. It often includes furniture, appliances, and other items necessary for daily home life. When moving to a new house, they hired a moving company to transport their household goods. The store offers a wide range of household goods, including kitchen appliances and furniture.
personal effects	This term is used to describe a person's private possessions that have personal significance. This can include items like jewelry, important documents, or small personal items. After her grandfather passed away, she carefully sorted through his personal effects. He always keeps his personal effects in a safe place when traveling.

Word

Description / Examples

belongings

This term is used to refer to the items that someone owns, typically items that a person can carry with them. It's a broad term that encompasses both personal and household items.

Please make sure you have all your belongings before you leave the bus.
She packed her belongings into a suitcase and left.

household goods

This term specifies the items that are used within a home. It often includes furniture, appliances, and other items necessary for daily home life.

When moving to a new house, they hired a moving company to transport their household goods.
The store offers a wide range of household goods, including kitchen appliances and furniture.

personal effects

This term is used to describe a person's private possessions that have personal significance. This can include items like jewelry, important documents, or small personal items.

After her grandfather passed away, she carefully sorted through his personal effects.
He always keeps his personal effects in a safe place when traveling.

Examples of usage

The moving company helped transport our belongings to the new house.
She carefully wrapped the fragile belongings before packing them.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old English word 'belang', meaning 'to belong to' or 'to be of importance.'
The suffix '-ing' in Middle English was often used to create nouns to signify ongoing action or condition, turning it into 'belongings' for things that belong.

Cultural Significance

In many cultures, personal belongings often reflect one's identity and social status, influencing how individuals are perceived by others.
Different societies have varied practices for possessions; for example, nomadic cultures might have fewer belongings, focusing on essentials for mobility.

Psychology

Studies suggest that our belongings can significantly impact our mental health, providing comfort and a sense of security.
The concept of 'possessive attachment' shows how emotional bonds can form with inanimate objects, often making them feel like an extension of oneself.

Legal Context

In legal situations, 'belongings' can refer to personal property rights, separating what is owned from what is public or community property.
Ownership of belongings can also come into play during divorce proceedings, where the division of property is crucial.

Minimalism

The trend of minimalism encourages individuals to reduce their belongings, focusing on quality rather than quantity to improve wellbeing.
Minimalists advocate for living with only what is necessary, promoting a lifestyle that emphasizes experiences over material possessions.

Translations

Translations of the word "belongings" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pertences

🇮🇳 सामान

🇩🇪 Besitz

🇮🇩 barang-barang

🇺🇦 речі

🇵🇱 rzeczy osobiste

🇯🇵 持ち物

🇫🇷 affaires personnelles

🇪🇸 pertenencias

🇹🇷 eşya

🇰🇷 소지품

🇸🇦 الممتلكات

🇨🇿 osobní věci

🇸🇰 osobné veci

🇨🇳 物品

🇸🇮 osebne stvari

🇮🇸 eignir

🇰🇿 заттар

🇬🇪 საკუთრება

🇦🇿 əşyalar

🇲🇽 pertenencias

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,626, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

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13623 uncover
13624 cowboy
13625 photocopying
13626 belongings
13627 trance
13628 purge
13629 soaking
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