briefcase

[breef-keys]

See more synonyms for briefcase on Thesaurus.com

noun

a flat, rectangular case with a handle, often of leather, for carrying books, papers, etc.

Origin of briefcase

1925–30; brief (noun) + case²

Can be confusedbriefcase handbag pocketbook purse valise wallet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for briefcase

Contemporary Examples

I settle for a sweater and jacket and throw a tie in my briefcase just in case it turns out to be the prom.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014
Although in that film, the briefcase contained an atomic bomb.
The Secrets of ‘Pulp Fiction’: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Movie on Its 20th Anniversary
Marlow Stern
October 19, 2014
He searches patiently through his briefcase and produces a round-trip ticket for the seat in question.
Stacks: Hitting the Note with the Allman Brothers Band
Grover Lewis
March 15, 2014
He opens the briefcase to reveal hundreds of well-thumbed sheets of paper filled with typewritten words.
The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali
Peter Richmond
February 23, 2014
He is carrying the briefcase as he enters the room, so still even in walking that he does not disturb the air around him.
The Stacks: The True Greatness of Muhammad Ali
Peter Richmond
February 23, 2014

Historical Examples

Joshua Lake entered the office with his hat in one hand and a briefcase in the other.
The Big Tomorrow
Paul Lohrman
Arnold hesitated, eyeing the briefcase in Beardsley's clutch.
We're Friends, Now
Henry Hasse
Even his name was initialed on the outside of the briefcase.
Forever
Robert Sheckley
He caught a flash of metal from his briefcase, and, still running, looked at it.
Forever
Robert Sheckley
The man on his left must have done that when he slapped the briefcase.
Forever
Robert Sheckley

British Dictionary definitions for briefcase

briefcase

noun

a flat portable case, often of leather, for carrying papers, books, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for briefcase

n.

"portable folding case for holding papers," 1926, from brief (n.) in the paper sense + case (n.2).

briefcase

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}briefcase

Examples from the Web for briefcase

Contemporary Examples

I settle for a sweater and jacket and throw a tie in my briefcase just in case it turns out to be the prom.

Although in that film, the briefcase contained an atomic bomb.

He searches patiently through his briefcase and produces a round-trip ticket for the seat in question.

He opens the briefcase to reveal hundreds of well-thumbed sheets of paper filled with typewritten words.

He is carrying the briefcase as he enters the room, so still even in walking that he does not disturb the air around him.

Historical Examples

Joshua Lake entered the office with his hat in one hand and a briefcase in the other.

Arnold hesitated, eyeing the briefcase in Beardsley's clutch.

Even his name was initialed on the outside of the briefcase.

He caught a flash of metal from his briefcase, and, still running, looked at it.

The man on his left must have done that when he slapped the briefcase.

briefcase

Word Origin and History for briefcase

n.

Origin of briefcase