n. pl. port·fo·li·os 1. A portable case for holding material, such as loose papers, photographs, or drawings. 2. A collection of works or documents that are representative of a person's skills and accomplishments: a photographer's portfolio; an artist's portfolio of drawings. 3. The office or post of a cabinet member or minister of state. 4. A group of investments held by an investor, investment company, or financial institution. [Italian portafoglio : portare, to carry (from Latin portāre; see per-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + foglio, sheet (from Latin folium, leaf; see bhel-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.