1
: of, relating to, or affecting a particular person : private, individual
personal ambition
personal financial gain
2
a
: done in person without the intervention of another
also
: proceeding from a single person
b
: carried on between individuals directly
a personal interview
3
: relating to the person or body
4
: relating to an individual or an individual's character, conduct, motives, or private affairs often in an offensive manner
a personal insult
5
a
: being rational and self-conscious
personal, responsive government is still possible—
John Fischer
John Fischer
b
: having the qualities of a person rather than a thing or abstraction
a personal devil
6
: of, relating to, or constituting personal property
a personal estate
7
: denoting grammatical person
8
: intended for private use or use by one person
a personal stereo
1
: a short newspaper paragraph relating to the activities of a person or a group or to personal matters
2
: a short personal communication in a special column of the classified ads section of a newspaper or periodical
3
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Adjective
This is just my personal opinion.
I can only tell you what I know from personal experience.
He added his own personal touches to the recipe.
We don't accept personal checks.
He is a personal friend of mine.
She is always concerned about her personal appearance.
We provide each of our customers with personal service.
Golf is a personal interest of mine.
May I ask you a personal question?
That information is very personal, and you have no business asking about it.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebErin Donaghue, CBS News, 2 July 2020
The Marine Corps’ new investigation, launched in September 2019 and shared this week with the families of the service members who were killed, criticizes the commander responsible for the original investigation in unusually personal terms.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 2 July 2020
If the check was deposited, or the payment came by direct deposit, the IRS will accept repayment by personal check or money order.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 1 July 2020
Over the next few weeks, all sorts of personal things went missing or were moved around in the apartment.
—Hari Kunzru, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Travelers in my study said their trip to Ghana empowered them to make changes towards social equity in their professional and personal lives.
—Alana Dillette, Quartz Africa, 28 June 2020
Wedel-Morales, 24, a native of Sapulpa, Okla., was last seen driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood in Killeen on the night of Aug. 19, 2019.
—Fox News, 23 June 2020
Bolton said Trump’s desire to place his personal interests ahead of the country’s extended to his dealings with world leaders including Kim.
—Jeong-Ho Lee / Bloomberg, Time, 22 June 2020
In addition, oils not intended as personal lubricants could lead to irritation and create a difficult-to-clean mess.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 23 June 2023
Terry Blain Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 9 Aug. 2020
Kolek scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting before he was called for an offensive foul with just under three minutes remaining in the first half for his second personal.
—Ben Steele, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2023
The personal was always political for Ms. Noomin, but she wasn’t moved to make overtly political work until the run-up to the 2016 presidential election and the #MeToo movement.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2022
His scientific disagreements on this issue unfortunately veered occasionally into the personal.
—Julianne Dalcanton, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2010
And that may also mean making climate change personal.
—Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 19 Dec. 2022
Responding to the impromptu comments of the audience around him, as if standing at the pulpit on a Sunday at his Atlanta church, his remarks often blended the personal with the political.
—Maya King Jonathan Weisman Ken Bensinger Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Maya King Reid Epstein Maya King Jonathan Weisman Jonathan Weisman Jonathan Weisman Richard Fausset Richard Fausset Jonathan Weisman Maya King Maya King Richard Fausset Maya King Maya King Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Richard Fausset Nate Cohn Richard Fausset Jonathan Weisman Maya King Nate Cohn Maya King Jonathan Weisman Nate Cohn Na, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
Dutt’s beautiful cookbook leans toward the personal.
—Dallas News, 2 Nov. 2022
For this generation, the personal had become intertwined with the economic.
—Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2022
See More
Adjective
The online tool is available in multiple languages and allows users to report the information with the promise that personal information will be kept confidential.
—Erin Donaghue, CBS News, 2 July 2020
The Marine Corps’ new investigation, launched in September 2019 and shared this week with the families of the service members who were killed, criticizes the commander responsible for the original investigation in unusually personal terms.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 2 July 2020
If the check was deposited, or the payment came by direct deposit, the IRS will accept repayment by personal check or money order.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 1 July 2020
Over the next few weeks, all sorts of personal things went missing or were moved around in the apartment.
—Hari Kunzru, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Travelers in my study said their trip to Ghana empowered them to make changes towards social equity in their professional and personal lives.
—Alana Dillette, Quartz Africa, 28 June 2020
Wedel-Morales, 24, a native of Sapulpa, Okla., was last seen driving his personal vehicle outside of Fort Hood in Killeen on the night of Aug. 19, 2019.
—Fox News, 23 June 2020
Bolton said Trump’s desire to place his personal interests ahead of the country’s extended to his dealings with world leaders including Kim.
—Jeong-Ho Lee / Bloomberg, Time, 22 June 2020
In addition, oils not intended as personal lubricants could lead to irritation and create a difficult-to-clean mess.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 23 June 2023
Noun
Musical Moments' personal.
—Terry Blain Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 9 Aug. 2020
Kolek scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting before he was called for an offensive foul with just under three minutes remaining in the first half for his second personal.
—Ben Steele, Journal Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2023
The personal was always political for Ms. Noomin, but she wasn’t moved to make overtly political work until the run-up to the 2016 presidential election and the #MeToo movement.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2022
His scientific disagreements on this issue unfortunately veered occasionally into the personal.
—Julianne Dalcanton, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2010
And that may also mean making climate change personal.
—Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 19 Dec. 2022
Responding to the impromptu comments of the audience around him, as if standing at the pulpit on a Sunday at his Atlanta church, his remarks often blended the personal with the political.
—Maya King Jonathan Weisman Ken Bensinger Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Maya King Reid Epstein Maya King Jonathan Weisman Jonathan Weisman Jonathan Weisman Richard Fausset Richard Fausset Jonathan Weisman Maya King Maya King Richard Fausset Maya King Maya King Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Richard Fausset Nate Cohn Richard Fausset Jonathan Weisman Maya King Nate Cohn Maya King Jonathan Weisman Nate Cohn Na, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2022
Dutt’s beautiful cookbook leans toward the personal.
—Dallas News, 2 Nov. 2022
For this generation, the personal had become intertwined with the economic.
—Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'personal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing personal
Dictionary Entries Near personal
Cite this Entry
“Personal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/personal. Accessed 9 Jul. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
personal
1 of 2 adjective
per·son·al
ˈpərs-nəl 
-ᵊn-əl
1
: of, relating to, or belonging to a person : private
personal property
2
a
: done in person
b
: proceeding from or directed to a single person
c
: carried on between individuals directly
3
: relating to the person or body
your personal appearance
4
: closely related to an individual : intimate
5
: indicating grammatical person
personal
2 of 2 noun
: a short paragraph or ad in a newspaper relating to personal matters
Legal Definition
personal
adjective
per·son·al
1
: of, relating to, or affecting a person: as
a
: of, relating to, or based on the existence or presence of a person see also personal injury, personal jurisdiction at jurisdiction
b
: of, relating to, or restricted to a natural person and his or her rights, obligations, affairs, assets, or lifetime
refused to disclose personal information
released on personal recognizance
2
: of, relating to, or constituting personal property
personal effects
see also personal property at property compare real
personally
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on personal
Nglish: Translation of personal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of personal for Arabic Speakers
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