debrief

[dee-breef]

See more synonyms for debrief on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to interrogate (a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc.) on return from a mission in order to assess the conduct and results of the mission.
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.
to subject to prohibitions against revealing or discussing classified information, as upon separation from a position of military or political sensitivity.

Psychology. (after an experiment) to disclose to the subject the purpose of the experiment and any reasons for deception or manipulation.

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

Examples from the Web for debrief

Contemporary Examples of debrief

At the same time, the NYPD is continuing to field undercovers as well as debrief informants.
NYPD Will Continue Spying in the Muslim Community With Undercovers, Informants
Michael Daly
April 16, 2014
Wilkinson, an editor at DeBrief, was on a train, eating a rushed meal.
All You Need to Be a Modern Digital Stalker Is a Smartphone
Tauriq Moosa
April 10, 2014
But quickly the debrief went sour, discussion turning to accusation.
A Man to Believe In: Eulogy for Marine Master Sergeant Aaron Torian
Elliot Ackerman
March 5, 2014
Would it be possible for Carrie to just burst into that debrief and be like “Hey, you started without me!”
‘Homeland’: Showtime’s Thriller Gets Fact Checked by an Intelligence Expert
Samantha Zalaznick
October 29, 2012
Finally, in March 2004 the Europeans relented and we sent one of our very best field officers to debrief Curveball.
What Bush Really Knew About WMDs
Tyler Drumheller
January 16, 2009

British Dictionary definitions for debrief

debrief

verb

(of a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc) to make or (of his superiors) to elicit a report after a mission or eventCompare brief (def. 13)

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

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