portfolio

noun

port·​fo·​lio pȯrt-ˈfō-lē-ˌō 

plural portfolios

1

: a hinged cover or flexible case for carrying loose papers, pictures, or pamphlets

2

[from the use of such a case to carry documents of state] : the office and functions of a minister of state or member of a cabinet

3

: the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial house (such as a bank)

4

: a set of pictures (such as drawings or photographs) usually bound in book form or loose in a folder

5

: a selection of a student's work (such as papers and tests) compiled over a period of time and used for assessing performance or progress

Did you know?

Portfolio is partly based on the Latin folium, meaning "leaf, sheet". A portfolio usually represents a portable showcase of your talents. Today actual portfolios are used less than they used to be by artists, since most commercial artists have a website dedicated to showing off their art. But portfolio in its other common meaning is extremely common. Not so long ago, a broker would keep each of his or her clients' investments in a separate notebook or portfolio. Today the investment portfolio, like an artist's portfolio, usually takes the form of a Web page, even though everyone still uses the same old word.

Examples of portfolio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the occasion of its 75th anniversary this year, the Omega Seamaster, a mainstay dive watch in the Swiss brand’s portfolio, continues to evolve with a collection of 11 new cerulean-blue timepieces. —Antonia Mufarech, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2023

The company has pieced together an immense gaming and entertainment portfolio through a nonstop series of acquisitions, which has brought together the comics group Dark Horse, Tomb Raider maker Crystal Dynamics, and franchising rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, among other properties. —Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge, 11 Sep. 2023

Family-friendly brands in the Inclusive Collection portfolio include Hyatt Ziva, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Sunscape Resorts & Spas, and Alua Hotels & Resorts. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2023

Including them in a portfolio can protect an investor’s wealth in the event of global market volatility. —Laxmi Corp, The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023

The pair has an extensive real estate portfolio that also includes properties in England, Los Angeles, and New York City. —Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Sep. 2023

The air taxi came courtesy of the Retreat at Blue Lagoon, the five-star wellness destination perched alongside the country’s famously turquoise geothermal pond; Highland Base, which soft-launched in July, joins the same portfolio. —Josh Condon, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023

This goes double for aging, an entirely human concept of which Collins is hyper-aware given her past portfolio. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2023

Water is the latest addition to Gatorade’s growing portfolio that extends beyond its flagship recovery drink and into energy beverages, protein powders and capsules. —Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Italian portafoglio, from portare to carry (from Latin) + foglio leaf, sheet, from Latin folium — more at blade

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

portfolio

noun

port·​fo·​lio pōrt-ˈfō-lē-ˌō 

pȯrt-

plural portfolios

1

: a case for carrying papers or drawings

2

: the office and functions of a minister of state or member of a cabinet

3

: the stocks and bonds held by an investor or investment firm

4

: a set of pictures (as drawings or photographs) usually bound in book form or loose in a folder

5

: a selection of a student's work (as papers or art) collected over a period of time

Etymology

an altered form of earlier porto folio "portfolio," from Italian portafoglio (same meaning), from portare "to carry" and foglio "leaf, sheet"; portare from Latin portare "to carry" and foglio from Latin folium "leaf" — related to foliage, portable

Legal Definition

portfolio

noun

port·​fo·​lio pōrt-ˈfō-lē-ō 

: the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial institution (as a bank)