You can refer to a large number of objects that someone has with them or that are connected with a particular activity as paraphernalia.
...a large courtyard full of builders' paraphernalia.
...tea-making paraphernalia.
Synonyms: equipment, things, effects, material More Synonyms of paraphernalia
2. uncountable noun
If you disapprove of the things and events that are involved in a particular system or activity, and you think they are unnecessary, you can refer to them as paraphernalia.
[disapproval]
The public don't necessarily want the paraphernalia of a full hearing. [+ of]
More Synonyms of paraphernalia
paraphernalia in British English
(ˌpærəfəˈneɪlɪə)
plural noun(sometimes functioning as singular)
1.
miscellaneous articles or equipment
2. law
(formerly) articles of personal property given to a married woman by her husband before or during marriage and regarded in law as her possessions over which she has some measure of control
Word origin
C17: via Medieval Latin from Latin parapherna personal property of a married woman, apart from her dowry, from Greek, from para-1 + phernē dowry, from pherein to carry
paraphernalia in American English
(ˌpærəfərˈneɪljə; ˌpærəfərˈneɪliə)
plural noun
1.
personal belongings
2.
any collection of articles, usually things used in some activity; equipment; apparatus; trappings; gear
3. Law; Obsolete
a.
personal property given to a wife by her husband which he may dispose of during his life, but which passes to her at his death
b.
the separate personal property of a wife over which her husband has no control
Word origin
ML, short for paraphernalia bona, wife's own goods < LL parapherna < Gr, bride's possessions beyond her dower < para-, beyond (see para-1) + phernē, a dowry, portion < pherein, to bear1
Examples of 'paraphernalia' in a sentence
paraphernalia
Some nautical paraphernalia can find a genuinely useful second lease of life in the garden.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Well, you'd get a young family and the usual paraphernalia in.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
paraphernalia
British English: paraphernalia NOUN
You can refer to a large number of objects that someone has with them or that are connected with a particular activity as paraphernalia.
...a large courtyard full of builders' paraphernalia.
American English: paraphernalia
Brazilian Portuguese: equipamento
Chinese: > 大量用品与某活动有关的
European Spanish: parafernalia
French: attirail
German: Utensilien
Italian: attrezzi
Japanese: 道具類
Korean: 장비
European Portuguese: equipamento
Latin American Spanish: parafernalia
1 (noun)
Definition
various articles or bits of equipment
a large courtyard full of builders' paraphernalia
Synonyms
equipment
Exports of military equipment are banned.
things
effects
material
stuff
He pointed to a duffle bag. `That's my stuff.'
tackle
fishing tackle
gear
fishing gear
baggage
excess baggage
apparatus
He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
belongings
clobber (British, slang)
His house is filled with a load of old clobber.
accoutrements
impedimenta
appurtenances
equipage
2 (noun)
the whole paraphernalia of the legal system
Synonyms
rigmarole
Then the whole rigmarole starts over again!
procedure
bother
Most men hate the bother of shaving.
to-do
Just like him to make such a to-do about it.
performance (informal)
She made a big performance of cooking the dinner.
carry-on (informal, mainly British)
nonsense
fuss
I don't know what all the fuss is about.
hassle (informal)
red tape
pantomime (informal)
trappings
palaver
We had to go through the whole palaver of changing our flight.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apparatus
Definition
a collection of equipment used for a particular purpose
He was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus.
Synonyms
equipment,
machine,
tackle,
gear,
means,
materials,
device,
tools,
implements,
mechanism,
outfit,
machinery,
appliance,
utensils,
contraption (informal)
in the sense of baggage
Definition
suitcases packed for a journey
excess baggage
Synonyms
luggage,
things,
cases,
bags,
equipment,
gear,
trunks,
suitcases,
belongings,
paraphernalia,
accoutrements,
impedimenta
in the sense of bother
Definition
a state of worry, trouble, or confusion
Most men hate the bother of shaving.
Synonyms
trouble,
problem,
worry,
difficulty,
strain,
grief (British, South Africa),
fuss,
pest,
irritation,
hassle (informal),
nuisance,
flurry,
uphill (South Africa),
inconvenience,
annoyance,
aggravation (informal),
vexation
Nearby words of
paraphernalia
paranoia
paranoid
parapet
paraphernalia
paraphrase
parasite
parasitic
Synonyms of 'paraphernalia'
paraphernalia
Explore 'paraphernalia' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clobber
Definition
personal belongings, such as clothes
His house is filled with a load of old clobber.
Synonyms
belongings,
things,
effects,
property,
stuff,
gear,
possessions,
paraphernalia,
accoutrements,
chattels
in the sense of equipage
Synonyms
equipment,
stores,
gear,
baggage,
apparatus,
munitions,
accoutrements,
materiel
in the sense of fuss
Definition
to worry unnecessarily
I don't know what all the fuss is about.
Synonyms
commotion,
to-do,
worry,
upset,
bother,
stir,
confusion,
excitement,
hurry,
flap (informal),
bustle,
flutter,
flurry,
agitation,
fidget,
fluster,
ado,
hue and cry,
palaver,
storm in a teacup (British),
pother
in the sense of gear
Definition
equipment for a particular task
fishing gear
Synonyms
equipment,
supplies,
tackle,
tools,
instruments,
outfit,
rigging,
rig,
accessories,
harness,
apparatus,
trappings,
paraphernalia,
accoutrements,
appurtenances,
equipage
in the sense of palaver
Definition
time-consuming fuss
We had to go through the whole palaver of changing our flight.
Synonyms
fuss,
business (informal),
to-do,
performance (informal),
procedure,
carry-on (informal, British),
pantomime (informal, British),
song and dance (British, informal),
rigmarole
in the sense of performance
Definition
conduct or behaviour, esp. when distasteful
She made a big performance of cooking the dinner.
Synonyms
carry-on (informal, British),
business,
to-do,
act,
scene,
display,
bother,
fuss,
pantomime (informal, British),
song and dance (informal),
palaver,
rigmarole,
pother (literary)
in the sense of stuff
Definition
any collection of unnamed things
He pointed to a duffle bag. `That's my stuff.'
Synonyms
things,
gear,
possessions,
effects,
materials,
equipment,
objects,
tackle,
kit,
junk,
luggage,
belongings,
trappings,
bits and pieces,
paraphernalia,
clobber (British, slang),
impedimenta,
goods and chattels
in the sense of tackle
Definition
the equipment required for a particular sport or occupation