asset
Americannoun
-
a useful and desirable thing or quality.
Organizational ability is an asset.
-
a single item of ownership having exchange value.
Our summer home is an asset we're not willing to sell.
-
Digital Technology. one of the media components that, taken together, comprise all of the elements of a video game, such as the environments, objects, character art and animation, and sound design.
All of the game assets are downloaded to your hard drive during the install, so slow load times are local and indicate a problem with your drive.
-
(in intelligence and information gathering) a person followed or spied upon to obtain information, who may be consenting, forced, or unaware of being used.
They threatened to release a catalog of virtually every CIA asset within the Soviet Union.
-
Military. a physical resource, such as a piece of equipment, vehicle, or building.
-
assets. see assets.
noun
Discover More
Commonly, the term denotes anything of value.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of asset
First recorded in 1525–35; back formation from assets, in phrase have assets, literally, “have enough (to pay obligations),” from Anglo-French, Old French asez “enough,” from unattested Vulgar Latin ad satis “to sufficiency”; see also assai 1
Explanation
An asset is something you have that is positive. It can mean a piece of property, a piece of equipment, an ability, or even a quality. "Her facility with math is an asset when it comes to figuring out the restaurant tab. She is an asset to the group." A person's overall financial picture is determined by lining up everything they own in the asset column, and everything they owe in the liability (or debit) column.
Vocabulary lists containing asset
Hatchet
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Trumps
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: March 30–April 5, 2019
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“There’s a different set of people who I think are maybe thinking that ownership of this asset will be the only thing that matters in the future, and therefore they’re holding on to more.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026
While not blessed with speed, the Villa captain has proved to be an immense outball for Scotland which, coupled with his workrate, has made him such an asset.
From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026
“If you have trading volumes and asset prices continue to decline, or even stay at these levels, more and more companies tend to get under pressure,” said Eric Risley, founder of Architect Partners.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
Maybe it should use interest-rate and balance-sheet policy to lean against debt-fueled asset price appreciation, regardless of where that debt originates.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
I was a child of the mainstream, and this was an asset.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
