portfolio

Meaning

Noun

• A case for carrying papers, drawings, photographs, maps and other flat documents.
• The collection of such documents, especially the works of an artist or photographer.
• The post and the responsibilities of a cabinet minister or other head of a government department.
• The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
• A collection of assets generally.
• A range of products.

Origin

• From Italian portafoglio; cognate with French portefeuille ("folder, wallet"), from Latin portāre ("to carry") and folium. The meaning "collection of responsibilities" came by extension in the 1930s.