Skip to main content
portfolio

portfolio

54 4.4
A collection of a person's creative work to show to employers or clients
  • noun
  • /pɔrtˈfoʊlioʊ/
translation icon : portafolio
  • Do you have a portfolio?
  • a portfolio of work
  • prepare a portfolio
  • portfolio assessment

You know, this kind of portfolio is for designers.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • First off, we want to see a portfolio of your work.

  • Can I get a photo of you for my portfolio?

  • So you are making a portfolio to show someone else what you can do.

  • The purpose of this portfolio is to feature someone in his or her best light.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I just got to see your portfolio.

  • All these artifacts, placed in a portfolio, can help document a student's potential as a music teacher.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Listen, I'm sure you have a portfolio, but if you don't, I'd be very interested in working with you.

  • I've been doing this for about a year professionally, and I'm doing my own portfolio, hiring models.

  • Quite an impressive portfolio.

  • I'm preparing my portfolio to showcase my artwork to potential clients.

Synonyms

body of work
vsportfolio
23 4.1

Complete collection of works a person creates, like books or paintings

is a selected set of examples chosen to show ability to others

How Complete

portfolio
54 4.4
showcase
52 4.1
selection
171 1.9
sample
2.3

Surface Forms

portfolio singular
portfolios plural

Morphology

portfolio = port + folio (transparent) = port + folio

Knowing 'folio' (sheets/works) and the idea of carrying/collecting naturally yields the meaning 'a carried collection of works' used as a sample collection.

Etymology

Portfolio became the name for the papers inside that case, especially an artist's samples. Because artists kept their best pages in a portfolio case, the word now means the collection of work you show to others.