chattel Definition
- 1a personal possession
- 2an item of property other than real estate
Using chattel: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "chattel" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The slaves were considered chattel and were bought and sold like any other property.
Example
The car was his most prized chattel.
Example
The landlord claimed that the damage to the apartment was caused by the tenant's chattels.
Example
The company's chattels were seized by the bank to pay off its debts.
chattel Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with chattel
a legal term referring to movable property, such as furniture or livestock, as opposed to immovable property like land or buildings
Example
The sale of real chattel is subject to sales tax.
a legal term referring to personal property, such as jewelry or clothing, as opposed to real property like land or buildings
Example
The will specified that all personal chattel be given to the surviving spouse.
Example
The company took out a chattel mortgage to finance the purchase of new machinery.
Origins of chattel
from Old French 'chatel', meaning 'property, goods'
Summary: chattel in Brief
The term 'chattel' [chat-l] refers to personal possessions or items of property other than real estate. It is often used in legal contexts, such as 'chattel mortgage,' which is a loan secured by movable property. 'Chattel' can also refer to specific types of property, such as 'real chattel,' which includes movable property like furniture or livestock, and 'personal chattel,' which includes personal property like jewelry or clothing.
