# brief

/ˈbɹif/ (US) · /bɹˈiːf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brief
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. short duration

adjective · CEFR B1

lasting for only a short time.

For teachers: of short duration; occurring or lasting for a limited period.

- The president made a brief appearance at the party before leaving for a meeting.
- The CEO offered a brief statement to the press, refusing to take questions regarding the ongoing merger negotiations.

### 2. concise language

adjective · CEFR B2

using only a few words to explain something.

For teachers: concise or succinct in expression; using few words to convey a message.

- Please keep your emails brief so that I can read them quickly.
- The report was admirably brief, distilling complex financial data into three clear and actionable bullet points.

### 3. to give information

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone the specific information or instructions they need for a task.

For teachers: to instruct or inform someone thoroughly but concisely in preparation for a task or mission.

- The captain will brief the crew on the safety procedures before we depart.
- The intelligence officer spent the morning briefing the diplomatic team on the potential security risks of the upcoming summit.

### 4. instructions or task

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a set of instructions or the specific job you are asked to do.

For teachers: a specific set of instructions or a defined area of responsibility given to a person or group.

- The architect's brief was to design a modern house that felt traditional.
- The committee's brief is to investigate the causes of the flood and suggest preventative measures for the future.

### 5. legal document

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a written document that explains why one side should win a court case.

For teachers: a written legal argument presented to a court to persuade the judge of a particular position.

- The lawyer spent all night writing the legal brief for the trial.
- The appellate court requested a supplemental brief addressing the constitutional implications of the new legislation.

### 6. underwear

noun · CEFR B2

short, tight-fitting underwear.

For teachers: short, snug-fitting underpants without legs.

- He packed three pairs of cotton briefs for the weekend trip.
- The athlete preferred wearing performance briefs under his running shorts to prevent chafing during long-distance training sessions.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form.

## Examples

- The manager gave us a clear brief for the new marketing campaign.
- The defense lawyer spent the entire weekend preparing the legal brief for the upcoming trial.
- While the creative brief provided a general direction for the brand's visual identity, it left enough room for the designers to experiment with the color palette and typography.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.