portfolio

[pawrt-foh-lee-oh, pohrt-]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portfolio¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of portfolio¹

C18: from Italian portafoglio, from portāre to carry + foglio leaf, paper, from Latin folium leaf

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.

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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.

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

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“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.

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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.

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