brief

[ breef ]

/ brif /

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See synonyms for: brief / briefed / briefer / briefing on Thesaurus.com

adjective, brief·er, brief·est.

lasting or taking a short time; of short duration: a brief walk; a brief stay in the country.

using few words; concise; succinct: a brief report on weather conditions.

abrupt or curt.

scanty: a brief bathing suit.

noun

a short and concise statement or written item.

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.

Law.

a writ summoning one to answer to any action.
a memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
a written argument submitted to a court.
(in England) the material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.

an outline, summary, or synopsis, as of a book.

briefs, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting, legless underpants with an elastic waistband.

a briefing.

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.

British Theater. a free ticket; pass.

Obsolete. a letter.

verb (used with object)

to make an abstract or summary of.

to instruct by a brief or briefing: They brief all the agents before assigning them.

Law. to retain as advocate in a suit.

OTHER WORDS FOR brief

1 short-lived, fleeting, transitory, ephemeral, transient.

2 terse, compact, pithy, condensed.

5 outline, précis, epitome, abstract.

14 summarize, outline.

See synonyms for brief on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about brief

hold a brief for, to support or defend by argument; endorse.

in brief, in a few words; in short: The supervisor outlined in brief the duties of the new assistant.

Origin of brief

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

synonym study for brief

1. See short. 5. See summary.

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

briefer, nounbriefness, nounun·brief, adjectiveun·brief·ly, adverb

un·brief·ness, nounun·briefed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use brief in a sentence

Confusion,” as a NATO briefer explained Thursday, “is part and parcel of this Russian hybrid warfare strategy.
Is the U.S. Enabling Putin's Invasion?|Christopher Dickey|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was George W. Bush's official briefer on the day of the 9-11 attacks.
Congress Targets Leading Spy for Benghazi Spin|Eli Lake|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In practice as distinct from theory, Isocrates probably had an influence more direct and intense, but briefer.
Rhetoric and Poetry in the Renaissance|Donald Lemen Clark
The late Duke of Guise had eclipsed his glory, and in a much briefer career had exhibited much more striking tactical skill.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird

This briefer story cannot but be a repetition of the facts and a synopsis of the fuller statement of them.
Was General Thomas Slow at Nashville?|Henry V. Boynton
The letters of her lover were still long and frequent; hers were briefer and more subdued.
Night and Morning, Complete|Edward Bulwer-Lytton
We will, struggling to be briefer, speak in her person; and indicate withal where the very words are hers, and where ours.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIII. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle

British Dictionary definitions for brief

brief

/ (briːf) /

adjective

short in durationa brief holiday

short in length or extent; scantya brief bikini

abrupt in manner; brusquethe professor was brief with me this morning

terse or concise; containing few wordshe made a brief statement

noun

a condensed or short statement or written synopsis; abstract

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

RC Church a letter issuing from the Roman court written in modern characters, as contrasted with a papal bull; papal brief

short for briefing

a paper outlining the arguments and information on one side of a debate

British slang a lawyer, esp a barrister

hold a brief for to argue for; champion

in brief in short; to sum up

verb (tr)

to prepare or instruct by giving a summary of relevant facts

to make a summary or synopsis of

English law

to instruct (a barrister) by brief
to retain (a barrister) as counsel

(intr foll by against) to supply potentially damaging or negative information regarding somone, as to the media, a politician, etcSee also briefs

Derived forms of brief

briefly, adverbbriefness, noun

Word Origin for brief

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with brief

brief

see hold no brief for; in brief.

brief

OTHER WORDS FOR brief

Idioms about brief

Origin of brief

synonym study for brief

OTHER WORDS FROM brief

Words related to brief

How to use brief in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for brief

Derived forms of brief

Word Origin for brief

Other Idioms and Phrases with brief