Language Research

personal · adjective

/ˈpɜr.sən.əl/Full view

Word family

Nouns: person, personality, personification

Adjectives: personal, impersonal

Verbs: personalize, personify

Adverbs: personally

personal (RELATING TO A PERSON)

B1 always before noun relating to or belonging to a particular person

Dictionary examples:

I can only speak from my personal experience.

This is a personal opinion/view and not that of the government.

Remember to take all your personal belongings with you as you leave the plane.

Learner example:

The only personal belongings he took was a black leather suitcase. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

personal (FOR ONE PERSON)

B1 always before noun designed for or used by one person

Dictionary examples:

a personal computer

a personal loan

Learner example:

The activity that I like best is to surf the Web with a powerful personal computer. (Preliminary English Test; B1; French)

personal (PRIVATE)

B1 relating to the private parts of someone's life, including their relationships or feelings

Dictionary examples:

He has a few personal problems at the moment.

Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?

His resignation was apparently for personal rather than professional reasons.

We know very little about his personal life.

Learner example:

I wanted to see him and talk to him about some personal problems. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Arabic)

personal hygiene

C1 how clean a person's body, teeth, hair, etc. are

Dictionary example:

Her personal hygiene is not as good as it should be.

Learner example:

The ones that need medical services at home have hardly had anyone, and no one has helped them with personal hygiene. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Swedish)