portfolio
/poɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.15 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer, or more generally, a presentation of an individual's work samples and skills (a career portfolio).
noun
The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.
noun
The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
noun
A collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets, (rarely) also liabilities.
Example Sentences
- "He opened an embroidered portfolio; and, from its perfumed depths, took out a letter, which he began to read aloud."
- "His [Jared Kushner's] portfolio extended to foreign policy, as he brokered a new North American trade agreement and negotiated peace deals in the Middle East."
- "Behind his [Terry Smith's] success is a simple formula: buy shares in companies that make basic necessities – from toilet paper to nappies, baby food to pet food, soap to shampoo. […] It's why his portfolio of just 20 companies includes names such as Unilever […] and Imperial Tobacco (Lambert & Butler, Gauloises, John Player Special, Rizla)."
- "Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers.[…]Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. Clever financial ploys are what have made billionaires of the industry’s veterans. “Operational improvement” in a portfolio company has often meant little more than promising colossal bonuses to sitting chief executives if they meet ambitious growth targets. That model is still prevalent today."
- "I would like to introduce you to our portfolio of services."
- "In the past, thoughts were too real to be kept like a cultural portfolio of stocks and bonds. But now we have mental assets."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: portafoglio, portāre
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /poɹtˈfoʊ.liˌoʊ/
- British English: /pɔːtˈfəʊ.liˌəʊ/
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Law.