portfolio

American  

[pawrt-foh-lee-oh, pohrt-] / pɔrtˈfoʊ liˌoʊ, poʊrt- /

noun

PLURAL

portfolios

1. a flat, portable case for carrying loose papers, drawings, etc.

2. such a case for carrying documents of a government department.

3. the total holdings of the securities, commercial paper, etc., of a financial institution or private investor.

4. the office or post of a minister of state or member of a cabinet.

---

portfolio British  

/ pɔːtˈfəʊlɪəʊ /

noun

1. a flat case, esp of leather, used for carrying maps, drawings, etc

2. the contents of such a case, such as drawings, paintings, or photographs, that demonstrate recent work

   an art student's portfolio

3. such a case used for carrying ministerial or state papers

4. the responsibilities or role of the head of a government department

   the portfolio for foreign affairs

5. a cabinet minister who is not responsible for any government department

6. 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

Its funds are structured as 10-year vehicles, but the more mature profile of the portfolio businesses allows it to start returning capital early.

From The Wall Street Journal

Through the partnership, Synopsys “will further accelerate and optimize its broad portfolio of compute-intensive applications spanning chip design, physical verification, molecular simulations, electromagnetic analysis optical simulation and more,” according to a press release.

From MarketWatch

For an investor such as an insurance company, with long-term obligations, that helps with the so-called duration of their portfolios.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Investors have gotten a gut-check for the first time all year — other than the tariff tantrum,” said Aaron Clark, a portfolio manager at GW&K Investment Management, in an interview with MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

But if investors are looking for a little something to diversify their portfolios, the Scots are back with plans to issue Scotland’s first bond in over 300 years.

From The Wall Street Journal