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.

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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

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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

Stewart said the new body was "looking at reform in terms of reviewing all the qualifications we have in our portfolio".

From BBC

In rejecting the takeover proposal, the steelmaker highlighted a portfolio of land that it estimates could be valued at as much as A$2.8 billion, based on gains from a recent sale.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Gold remains a dynamic, multi-faceted portfolio hedge,” with investor demand still stronger than their previous expectations, they wrote in a Sunday research note.

From Barron's

However, those historical averages assume a portfolio heavily invested in equities.

From MarketWatch

Salehuddin Ahmed, who holds the finance portfolio in the interim government, said the economy had shifted from the "intensive care unit to the high dependency unit".

From Barron's