asset

American  

[as-et] / ˈæs ɛt /

noun

1. a useful and desirable thing or quality.

   Organizational ability is an asset.

2. a single item of ownership having exchange value.

   Our summer home is an asset we're not willing to sell.

3. Digital Technology. one of the media components that, taken together, comprise all of the elements of a video game, such as the environments, objects, character art and animation, and sound design.

   All of the game assets are downloaded to your hard drive during the install, so slow load times are local and indicate a problem with your drive.

4. (in intelligence and information gathering) a person followed or spied upon to obtain information, who may be consenting, forced, or unaware of being used.

   They threatened to release a catalog of virtually every CIA asset within the Soviet Union.

5. Military. a physical resource, such as a piece of equipment, vehicle, or building.

6. assets. assets.

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asset British  

/ ˈæsɛt /

noun

1. anything valuable or useful See also assets

   experience is their main asset

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asset Cultural  

1. A possession that can be turned into cash to cover liabilities.

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Discover More

Commonly, the term denotes anything of value.

Other Word Forms

• assetless adjective

Etymology

Origin of asset

First recorded in 1525–35; back formation from assets, in phrase have assets, literally, “have enough (to pay obligations),” from Anglo-French, Old French asez “enough,” from unattested Vulgar Latin ad satis “to sufficiency”; assai ¹

Example Sentences

From being locked out of assets to facing a “widow’s penalty” that can raise tax rates, the transition from a partnership to solo financial management is fraught with potential costs.

From The Wall Street Journal

“So we have a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the integrity of these assets. But also, on a human level, we have a very high responsibility for the safety of our colleagues and our co-workers.”

From Los Angeles Times

The “wealth effect” of higher asset prices has helped fuel spending and aided the economy, but affordability issues remain a top concern for many other American families.

From MarketWatch

“Chevron remains focused on the safety and wellbeing of our employees, as well as the integrity of our assets,” the company said in a statement.

From Barron's

Chevron said in a statement Saturday that it is focused on the safety of its employees and the integrity of its assets in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aid
• benefit
• credit
• resource
• service