portfolio
Americannoun
plural
portfolios-
a flat, portable case for carrying loose papers, drawings, etc.
-
such a case for carrying documents of a government department.
-
the total holdings of the securities, commercial paper, etc., of a financial institution or private investor.
-
the office or post of a minister of state or member of a cabinet.
noun
-
a flat case, esp of leather, used for carrying maps, drawings, etc
-
the contents of such a case, such as drawings, paintings, or photographs, that demonstrate recent work
an art student's portfolio
-
such a case used for carrying ministerial or state papers
-
the responsibilities or role of the head of a government department
the portfolio for foreign affairs
-
a cabinet minister who is not responsible for any government department
-
the complete investments held by an individual investor or by a financial organization
Etymology
Origin of portfolio
1715–25; < Italian portafoglio, equivalent to porta-, stem of portare to carry (< Latin portāre ) + foglio leaf, sheet (< Latin folium; foil 2 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Cliffwater also recently sold an interest in a roughly $1 billion loan portfolio that it will continue to manage, people familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
“The quality of Cliffwater’s portfolio isn’t the question,” said Leyla Kunimoto, founder of Accredited Investor Insights, a newsletter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
“The market is moving on past inflation concerns and getting more concerned about growth,” said Garrett Melson, a portfolio strategist at Natixis Investment Managers Solutions.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Barron’s has discussed what happened and how to prepare your portfolio, and if you want to read more, here are some useful links.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
At least I got my sketches and paintings for my portfolio done.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
