ENGLISH
REFERENCE

portfolio

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //pɔɹtˈfoʊɫiˌoʊ// UK //pɔːtfˈəʊlɪˌəʊ// port·fo·lio

n. a collection of your best work or a group of investments you own. You use it to show your skills to a boss or to track your money.

n. a curated collection of materials that document a person's skills and achievements; also, the total range of investments held by an individual or organization.


SIMPLE

She brought her design portfolio to the job interview.

CONTEXTUAL

The investor decided to diversify his portfolio by adding international stocks and real estate to his existing holdings.

COMPLEX

A professional artist must maintain a digital portfolio that showcases both their technical versatility and their unique creative voice to attract high-end commercial clients.

Origin

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.

Usage

Often used with the verb 'diversify' in finance or 'build' in professional development.

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