Definitions for brief
brifbrief

Princeton's WordNet(2.67 / 9 votes)Rate this definition:

1. brief, legal briefnoun

   a document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case

2. briefadjective

   a condensed written summary or abstract

3. briefadjective

   of short duration or distance

   "a brief stay in the country"

4. briefadjective

   concise and succinct

   "covered the matter in a brief statement"

5. abbreviated, briefverb

   (of clothing) very short

   "an abbreviated swimsuit"; "a brief bikini"

6. briefverb

   give essential information to someone

   "The reporters were briefed about the President's plan to invade"

Wiktionary(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. briefnoun

   An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

2. briefnoun

   A short news story or report.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

3. briefnoun

   A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

4. briefverb

   To knowledgeably summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.

   The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

5. briefverb

   To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

6. briefadjective

   Of short duration; happening quickly.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

7. briefadjective

   Concise; taking few words.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

8. briefadjective

   Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.

   Etymology: From brief, from brevis. Compare French bref.

Webster Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Briefadjective

   short in duration

2. Briefadjective

   concise; terse; succinct

3. Briefadjective

   rife; common; prevalent

4. Briefadverb

   briefly

5. Briefadverb

   soon; quickly

6. Briefadjective

   a short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words

7. Briefadjective

   an epitome

8. Briefadjective

   an abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument

9. Briefadjective

   a writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2

10. Briefnoun

    a writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence

11. Briefnoun

    a letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose

12. Briefverb

    to make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings

Freebase(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   A brief is a written legal document used in various legal adversarial systems that is presented to a court arguing why one party to a particular case should prevail. In England and Wales, the phrase refers to the papers given to a barrister when they are instructed.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   brēf, n. a short account of a client's case for the instruction of counsel: a writ: a short statement of any kind.—adj. short: concise.—adj. Brief′less.—adv. Brief′ly.—n. Brief′ness.—In brief, in few words.—King's briefs, royal mandates ordering collections to be made in chapels for building churches, &c.; Papal brief, such documents as are issued without some of the solemnities proper to bulls.—The brief and the long (Shak.), the short and the long.—To be brief, to speak in a few words; To hold a brief, to be retained as counsel in a case; To take a brief, to undertake a case. [Fr. bref—L. brevis, short.]

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Brief

   A brief summary of all the facts of a client’s case prepared by a solicitor for the instruction of counsel.

Matched Categories

1. • Instruct
   • Law
   • Legal Document

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2192

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2470

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'brief' in Adjectives Frequency: #277

Anagrams for brief »

1. fiber, fibre

2. Fiber

3. Fibre

How to pronounce brief?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say brief in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of brief in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of brief in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of brief in a Sentence

1. Michael Winkleman:

   This is a matter that should be decided by a jury, and we are confident and hopeful the appellate court will agree, we will continue to fight and raise awareness about the dangers of unintentional toddler window falls. This case was always about Chloe Wiegand and shining a light on Chloe Wiegand brief but beautiful life. That goal has not changed.

2. King Arthur:

   Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.

3. Hedy Kindler:

   It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years from exposure to the development of mesothelioma, you can be exposed at small levels for a long period or high levels for a brief period.

4. Horace:

   Whatever your advice, make it brief.

5. The Republican leader:

   I am inviting the Vice President to brief Members of the Republican Conference next week to provide an update on the Administration’s plan to secure our southern border and our country.

Images & Illustrations of brief

Popularity rank by frequency of use