paraphernalia
Paraphernalia (noun) means a miscellaneous collection of items, especially equipment associated with a particular activity. Example: “The garage was full of camping paraphernalia.”
How to use paraphernalia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAll the odds-and-ends gear that goes along with doing something — usually treated as a plural mass, not counted individually.
Always used as a collective noun — you don't say "a paraphernalia" or "two paraphernalias."
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The garage was full of camping _____.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin paraphernalia, "goods belonging to a wife beyond her dowry," from Greek para- ("beside") + pherne ("dowry"). The word broadened from a legal term for a wife's personal property into "assorted gear" generally.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for paraphernalia
See all rhymes for paraphernalia →Frequently asked questions
What does “paraphernalia” mean?
The word “paraphernalia” means a miscellaneous collection of items, especially equipment associated with a particular activity. In plain terms, all the odds-and-ends gear that goes along with doing something — usually treated as a plural mass, not counted individually.
How do you pronounce “paraphernalia”?
“Paraphernalia” is pronounced pa-ruh-fuh-NAY-lee-uh (/ˌpɛɹəfɚˈneɪli.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “paraphernalia” in a sentence?
Here is “paraphernalia” used in a sentence: “The garage was full of camping paraphernalia.”
What part of speech is “paraphernalia”?
“Paraphernalia” is a noun.
Where does the word “paraphernalia” come from?
The word “paraphernalia” comes from Medieval Latin.