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debrief

[dee-breef]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to interrogate (a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc.) on return from a mission in order to assess the conduct and results of the mission.
  2. to question formally and systematically in order to obtain useful intelligence or information: Political and economic experts routinely debrief important defectors about conditions in their home country.
  3. to subject to prohibitions against revealing or discussing classified information, as upon separation from a position of military or political sensitivity.
  4. Psychology. (after an experiment) to disclose to the subject the purpose of the experiment and any reasons for deception or manipulation.
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Origin of debrief

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + brief
Related formsde·brief·er, nounde·brief·ing, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for debrief

interrogate, grill, probe, examine, quiz, investigate, interview, muzzle, mute, suppress, censor, gag, quash, soft-pedal, squelch, stifle, cross-examine

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Contemporary Examples of debrief

British Dictionary definitions for debrief

debrief

verb
  1. (of a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc) to make or (of his superiors) to elicit a report after a mission or eventCompare brief (def. 13)
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Derived Formsdebriefing, noun
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 debrief

v.

"obtain information (from someone) at the end of a mission," 1945, from de- + brief (v.). Related: Debriefed; debriefing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper