portfolio

plural portfolios

1. A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.First known use 1720s

   He opened an embroidered portfolio; and, from its perfumed depths, took out a letter, which he began to read aloud.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Introduction”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 142

2. broadlyThe 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).
3. governmentThe post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.First known use 1930s

   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.

   2025 October 29, Mohamad Bazzi, “Jared Kushner is back – and so are big questions about his financial ties”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: ministry

4. businessThe group of investments and other assets held by an investor.First known use 1950s

   2 more examples

   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).

   2011 December 2, Patrick Collinson, “Terry Smith's investments have other fund managers on the ropes”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   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.

   2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70

5. businessA collection of assets; (figurative) any collection of things considered as investments or assets, (rarely) also liabilities.

   I would like to introduce you to our portfolio of services.

   3 more examples

   In the past, thoughts were too real to be kept like a cultural portfolio of stocks and bonds. But now we have mental assets.

   1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 378

   Father: Darling, and no disrespect to you, Vicar, but what I'm thinking is this. How about a mixed portfolio, whereby we spread him through Judaism, Islam, Hindu, and so on, maintaining a firm base in the Church of England? Mother: It does sound safer. Father: Exactly.

   1989 February 10, Stephen Fry et al., “Christening”, in A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Season 1, Episode 5

   Promising to protect the welfare state while adding further obligations to its portfolio has become customary for SPD and Greens.

   2024 August 18, Jörg Michael Dostal, “Left Conservatism: Sahra Wagenknecht's Challenge to the German Party System”, in The Political Quarterly, volume 95, number 4, →DOI, page 644 of 634–644

6. A range of products.

   product portfolio