English Explanatory Dictionary

portfolio

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.
  2. The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer.
  3. The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.
  4. The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
  5. A collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets, (rarely) also liabilities.
  6. A range of products.

Pronunciation

/pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/ /-əʊl.jəʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-portfolio.wav /pɔɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/ /poɹt-/ /-oʊl.joʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-portfolio.wav /poːtˈfəʉ.liˌəʉ/ [poːtˈfɐʉ.liˌɐʉ] [-ɐʉl.jɐʉ] /poːtˈfɐʉ.liˌɐʉ/ /-ɐʉl.jɐʉ/

Word forms

portfolio portfolios

Etymology

From Italian portafoglio; cognate with French portefeuille (“folder, wallet”), from Latin portāre (“to carry”) and folium (“sheet”). The meaning "collection of responsibilities" came by extension in the 1930s.

Synonyms

ministry

Related words

blad curriculum vitae repertoire

Derived words

e-portfolio foreign portfolio investment minister without portfolio multiportfolio nonportfolio padfolio portfolio career portfolio frontier portfolio worker subportfolio webfolio
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