plural assets
1
assets plural
a
: the property of a deceased person subject by law to the payment of his or her debts and legacies
b
: the entire property of a person, association, corporation, or estate applicable or subject to the payment of debts
2
: advantage, resource
His wit is his chief asset.
—sometimes used euphemistically or humorously in the plural to refer to parts of a person's body (such as the breasts or buttocks) that are considered attractiveWe tested RLS's eight-panel shorts on a one-day bike ride. … there was enough padding for saddle comfort, yet not so much that it exaggerated our assets.—
Vicky Lowry
Vicky LowryGreenberg hid his athletic physique under baggy clothes … until he realized that tighter jeans and knits show off his assets better.—Sandra Nygaard
Sandra Nygaard3
a
: an item of value owned
b
assets plural
: the items on a balance sheet showing the book value of property owned
4
: something useful in an effort to foil or defeat an enemy: such as
a
: a piece of military equipment
b
: spy
Examples of asset in a Sentence
The state's natural assets include mountains and beautiful lakes.
rumors persisted that CIA assets were behind the coup d'état
Recent Examples on the Web
The promise of programmable assets will stall not on regulation, but on coordination.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Werning has led the development of the firm’s cryptocurrency practice, positioning Meyer Wilson Werning at the forefront of digital asset litigation.
—William Jones, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Among the biggest assets that CBS brought to the table in the merger is its NFL TV rights package that runs through 2033.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2025
Portfolio changes for family offices in the Americas Average asset allocation | 2023 vs. 2025
The column charts show the average asset allocation for family offices in North America in 2023 and 2025 according to Goldman Sachs.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asset
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Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Werning has led the development of the firm’s cryptocurrency practice, positioning Meyer Wilson Werning at the forefront of digital asset litigation.
—William Jones, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Among the biggest assets that CBS brought to the table in the merger is its NFL TV rights package that runs through 2033.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 11 Sep. 2025
Portfolio changes for family offices in the Americas Average asset allocation | 2023 vs. 2025
The column charts show the average asset allocation for family offices in North America in 2023 and 2025 according to Goldman Sachs.
—Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for asset
Cite this Entry
“Asset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asset. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
asset
noun
as·set
ˈas-ˌet 
1
plural
: all the property of a person, corporation, or estate that may be used in payment of debts
2
: a quality or thing that can be used to advantage
a real asset to the team
Legal Definition
asset
noun
as·set
ˈa-ˌset, -sət
1
: the entire property of a person, business organization, or estate that is subject to the payment of debts
—used in pl.
compare equity
2
: an item of property owned
—
admitted asset
: an asset allowed by law to be included in determining the financial condition of an insurance company compare nonadmitted asset in this entry
—
appointive asset
: an asset in an estate that is to be distributed under a power of appointment
—
capital asset
: a tangible or intangible long-term asset especially that is not regularly bought or sold as part of the owner's business
specifically
: any asset classified as a capital asset by law (as section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code)
—
current asset
: a short-term asset (as inventory, an account receivable, or a note) that can be quickly converted into cash
—
equitable asset
: an asset especially in an estate that is subject to the payment of debts only in a court of equity
—
fixed asset
: a tangible asset (as a piece of equipment) that is of a permanent or long-term nature
—
intangible asset
: an asset (as goodwill or a patent) that does not have physical form
—
marital asset
: an asset acquired by either spouse or both spouses during a marriage
Note: Marital assets are generally subject to equitable distribution on divorce.
—
net assets
: the excess of assets over liabilities
called also net worth
: admitted assets considered as a whole
—
net quick assets
: the excess of quick assets over current liabilities
—
nonadmitted asset
: an asset not allowed by law to be included in determining the financial condition of an insurance company because it cannot be quickly converted into cash without incurring a loss compare admitted asset in this entry
—
quick assets
: cash, accounts receivable, and other current assets except inventories
—
tangible asset
: an asset that has physical form and is capable of being appraised at an actual or approximate value
—
wasting asset
: property (as a copyright or oil well) that will eventually expire or be used up and lose its value
Etymology
back-formation from assets, singular, sufficient property to pay debts and legacies, from Anglo-French asetz, from Old French asez enough
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