portfolio

American  

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

noun

• portfolios
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• portfolios
  plural

Etymology

Origin of portfolio

1715–25; < Italian portafoglio, equivalent to porta-, stem of portare to carry (< Latin portāre ) + foglio leaf, sheet (< Latin folium; see foil ²)

Explanation

A portfolio is a large, flat briefcase used to hold papers and other loose materials, like maps or artwork. A portfolio is usually used to transport important documents, like examples of your graphic design work if you’re an artist. The noun portfolio has its roots in the similarly-sounding Latin portafoglio “a case for carrying loose papers.” Notice, within that word, two other words — there’s porta, meaning “carry,” and foglio, meaning “sheet, leaf.” In English, think portable folio, or papers that can be carried. Also, portfolio can refer to the duties of a government official or the collection of investments held by a financial company.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

portfolio portfolios

The “golden ratio” for portfolio construction — 60% stocks, 40% bonds — works again, but with a few tweaks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

The interview offered an unusually personal look at an official better known for managing an increasingly complicated portfolio of international crises and national security issues.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

This new combination is why the portfolio version of the golden ratio was developed in the first place.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

The 60% stocks, 40% bonds portfolio has been declared dead more times than I can count.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

“Come back tomorrow afternoon. Bring your portfolio and a sketchpad. And tell your brother to give you back the sun, trees, stars, all of it already. I think you need.”

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

The hedge fund manager has added Visa, Mastercard, Netflix and three other new investments to his portfolios.

From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026

And traders who diversified their portfolios say it has helped cushion the blow from the stock market rout.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Mortgage companies often make hedges against their portfolios of mortgages, which change in value with interest rates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Part of the problem with curtailing risk in a retirement plan is that Americans are living longer, and their portfolios need to last their entire life.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Their “safety” was in schools, portfolios, and skyscrapers.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates