portfolio

noun

port·​fo·​lio pȯrt-ˈfō-lē-ˌō How to pronounce portfolio (audio)
plural portfolios
1
: a hinged cover or flexible case for carrying loose papers, pictures, or pamphlets
2
[from the use of such a case to carry documents of state] : the office and functions of a minister of state or member of a cabinet
3
: the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial house (such as a bank)
4
: a set of pictures (such as drawings or photographs) usually bound in book form or loose in a folder
5
: a selection of a student's work (such as papers and tests) compiled over a period of time and used for assessing performance or progress

Did you know?

Portfolio is partly based on the Latin folium, meaning "leaf, sheet". A portfolio usually represents a portable showcase of your talents. Today actual portfolios are used less than they used to be by artists, since most commercial artists have a website dedicated to showing off their art. But portfolio in its other common meaning is extremely common. Not so long ago, a broker would keep each of his or her clients' investments in a separate notebook or portfolio. Today the investment portfolio, like an artist's portfolio, usually takes the form of a Web page, even though everyone still uses the same old word.

Examples of portfolio in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Because individual-stock premiums are currently richer, managers may also be able to meet their income targets by writing options against a smaller portion of the portfolio. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 The wealth effect from soaring stocks fuels consumption, while Americans without big investment portfolios have been forced to retreat amid elevated inflation and a stagnant job market. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Basically, the rule is to withdraw 4% of your total investment portfolio and adjust that by inflation each year. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for portfolio

Word History

Etymology

Italian portafoglio, from portare to carry (from Latin) + foglio leaf, sheet, from Latin folium — more at blade

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of portfolio was in 1713

Rhymes for portfolio

See All Rhymes for portfolio

Browse Nearby Words

portfire
portfolio
portfolio investment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Portfolio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portfolio. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

portfolio

noun
port·​fo·​lio pōrt-ˈfō-lē-ˌō How to pronounce portfolio (audio)
pȯrt-
plural portfolios
1
: a case for carrying papers or drawings
2
: the office and functions of a minister of state or member of a cabinet
3
: the stocks and bonds held by an investor or investment firm
4
: a set of pictures (as drawings or photographs) usually bound in book form or loose in a folder
5
: a selection of a student's work (as papers or art) collected over a period of time
Etymology

an altered form of earlier porto folio "portfolio," from Italian portafoglio (same meaning), from portare "to carry" and foglio "leaf, sheet"; portare from Latin portare "to carry" and foglio from Latin folium "leaf" — related to foliage, portable

Legal Definition

portfolio

noun
port·​fo·​lio pōrt-ˈfō-lē-ō How to pronounce portfolio (audio)
: the securities held by an investor : the commercial paper held by a financial institution (as a bank)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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