portfolio
UK /pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/ · US /poɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/ noun
Forms portfolios
- noun A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.
- noun (by extension) The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer, or more generally, a presentation of an individual's work samples and skills (a career portfolio).
- noun (politics) The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.
- noun (finance) The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
- noun (business) A collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets, (rarely) also liabilities. “I would like to introduce you to our portfolio of services.”
- noun A range of products. “product portfolio”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Italian portafoglio; cognate with French portefeuille (“folder, wallet”), from Latin portāre (“to carry”) and folium (“sheet”). The meaning "collection of responsibilities" came by extension in the 1930s.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A portable case for holding loose papers, prints, drawings, etc.
- noun Hence: The office and functions of a minister of state or member of the cabinet; as, to receive the portfolio of war; to resign the portfolio.
Etymology [F. portefeuille; porter to carry + feuille a leaf. See Port to carry, and Folio.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “portfolio”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details