paraphernalia
/ˌpær.ə.fəˈneɪ.li.ə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Things and equipment used for a particular activity. It often suggests many small items, sometimes in a messy or unnecessary-looking group.
- He packed all his camping paraphernalia.
- The desk was covered with office paraphernalia.
- The kitchen had coffee paraphernalia everywhere.
Adinary Nuance
Paraphernalia is broader than equipment and more specific than stuff. Use it when you mean a set of items connected with one activity, especially when there are many of them. It can sound slightly formal, or even negative, if the items seem unnecessary or cluttered.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đồ dùng
- Spanish
- utensilios
- Chinese
- 器具
- Japanese
- 道具類
- Korean
- 도구류
Etymology
Paraphernalia came into English from Late Latin in the 1600s. It originally referred to a married woman's personal property, then later came to mean equipment and related belongings.
Common phrases
smoking paraphernaliadrug paraphernaliacooking paraphernaliacamping paraphernalia
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is paraphernalia countable or uncountable?
- It is usually uncountable. You normally say "paraphernalia" for a collection of items.
- Is paraphernalia formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and often used in writing, news, or legal contexts.
- Can I use paraphernalia for everyday things?
- Yes, but it often sounds slightly formal or critical, especially for many small items.