brief

[ breef ]

adjective

, brief·er, brief·est.

1. lasting or taking a short time; of short duration:

   a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.

   Synonyms: transient, ephemeral, transitory, fleeting, short-lived

2. using few words; concise; succinct:

   a brief report on weather conditions.

   Synonyms: condensed, pithy, compact, terse

3. abrupt or curt.
4. scanty:

   a brief bathing suit.

noun

1. a short and concise statement or written item.

   Synonyms: abstract, epitome, précis, outline

2. an outline, the form of which is determined by set rules, of all the possible arguments and information on one side of a controversy:

   a debater's brief.

3. Law.
   1. a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
   2. a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
   3. a written argument submitted to a court.
   4. (in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
4. an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.
5. briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.
6. a briefing.
7. Roman Catholic Church. a papal letter less formal than a bull, sealed with the pope's signet ring or stamped with the device borne on this ring.
8. British Theater. a free ticket; pass.
9. Obsolete. a letter.

verb (used with object)

1. to make an abstract or summary of.

   Synonyms: outline, summarize

2. to instruct by a brief or briefing:

   They brief all the agents before assigning them.

3. Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.

brief

/ briːf /

adjective

1. short in duration

   a brief holiday

2. short in length or extent; scanty

   a brief bikini

3. abrupt in manner; brusque

   the professor was brief with me this morning

4. terse or concise; containing few words

   he made a brief statement

noun

1. a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract
2. law a document containing all the facts and points of law of a case by which a solicitor instructs a barrister to represent a client
3. RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief
4. See briefing
   short for briefing
5. a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate
6. slang.
   a lawyer, esp a barrister
7. hold a brief for
   hold a brief for to argue for; champion
8. in brief
   in brief in short; to sum up

verb

1. to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts
2. to make a summary or synopsis of
3. English law
   1. to instruct (a barrister) by brief
   2. to retain (a barrister) as counsel
4. See briefs
   intrfoll byagainst to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etc See also briefs

Derived Forms

• ˈbriefness, noun
• ˈbriefly, adverb

Other Words From

• briefer noun
• briefness noun
• un·brief adjective
• un·briefly adverb
• un·briefness noun
• un·briefed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of brief¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bref, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin brevis “short”; breve

Word History and Origins

Origin of brief¹

C14: from Old French bref , from Latin brevis ; related to Greek brakhus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.
2. in brief, in a few words; in short:

   The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.

More idioms and phrases containing brief

see hold no brief for ; in brief .

Synonym Study

See short. See summary.

Example Sentences

In his brief appearance today, Scalise never mentioned Duke.

From The Daily Beast

Before we get to all that, permit me a brief reflection on this matter of Steve Scalise.

From The Daily Beast

Hawking, of course, came to global fame with his book A Brief History of Time.

From The Daily Beast

Even when financial facilitators are arrested, incarceration is brief.

From The Daily Beast

Even the brief time spent chewing exposes foods to enzymes that begin to break it down.

From The Daily Beast

Vicars' wives had come and gone, but all had submitted, some after a brief struggle, to old Mrs. Wurzel's sway.

From Project Gutenberg

As Perker said this, he looked towards the door, with an evident desire to render the leave-taking as brief as possible.

From Project Gutenberg

And I finished all with a brief historical account of affairs and events in England for about a hundred years past.

From Project Gutenberg

The events which succeeded this fortunate capture are too well known to require more than a very brief recapitulation.

From Project Gutenberg

In brief, by the close of the year, the phenomenal conditions growing directly out of the European war had been met and overcome.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• concise
• fleeting
• momentary
• quick
• short-lived
• swift
• temporary