Personal effects: meaning, definitions and examples

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Accepted Answer

Word	Description / Examples
personal effects	Typically used to refer to personal items someone carries or owns that are small and often of sentimental value. This term is often used in legal or formal contexts. After the accident, the police collected her personal effects and returned them to her family
belongings	Used in everyday conversation to refer to all the personal items someone owns, especially those they carried with them. Don't forget to pack all your belongings before leaving the hotel
possessions	Used to refer to anything someone owns, including physical items and sometimes intangible assets. Can have a slightly higher register than 'belongings'. Despite losing his home, he managed to save his most valuable possessions
property	Refers to items or assets that are owned by someone. Often used in legal contexts or when referring to real estate. He inherited a large piece of property after his grandfather passed away
goods	Generally refers to items that are produced or manufactured for sale. This term is often used in business or commercial contexts. The store offers a wide variety of household goods

Definition