Definition

Adjective: 1. Made or tailored specifically for an individual: Refers to something that has been created, modified, or chosen to suit the particular needs, preferences, or characteristics of a single person. 2. Pointedly referring to a person's private affairs: Describes comments, criticisms, or actions that are directed at an individual in a way that invades privacy or is inappropriately focused on personal matters.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Made for an individual):

  • The company sends personalized birthday emails with the customer's name.
  • She bought a personalized notebook with her initials embossed on the cover.
  • The app provides personalized workout plans based on your fitness level.

• Adjective (Referring to private affairs):

  • The debate turned ugly with personalized attacks that had nothing to do with the policy.
  • He felt the criticism was unnecessarily personalized and hurtful.
  • Keep the feedback professional and avoid making personalized remarks.

Advanced Usage

• "to personalize something": The verb form meaning to design or alter something to meet an individual's specifications.
  • You can personalize your phone case with a photo.
• "personalization": The noun form referring to the act or process of making something personal.
  • Data analytics allows for a high degree of personalization in marketing.

Variants and Related Words

• Personal (adj): Belonging to or affecting a particular person.
  • That is her personal opinion.
• Customized (adj): Modified to specifications. (Often similar to the first meaning of "personalized," but can apply to groups or systems, not just individuals).
  • a customized software solution for the business.

Synonyms

• Individualized: Tailored for one person.
• Custom-made: Made to order.
• Monogrammed: Having a person's initials.
• Directed: Aimed at a specific person (for the second meaning).

Related Phrases

• Personalized medicine: A medical model using an individual's genetic profile to guide decisions about prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
  • The future of healthcare lies in personalized medicine.
• Personalized learning: An educational approach that aims to customize learning for each student's strengths, needs, and interests.
  • The school adopted a personalized learning model.

Adjective

1. pointedly referring to or concerning a person's individual personality or intimate affairs especially offensively
   • unnecessarily personalized remarks
2. made for or directed or adjusted to a particular individual
   • personalized luggage
   • personalized advice