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brief
/briːf/
short in duration or length
She gave a brief explanation before the meeting started.
She provided a short explanation before the meeting began.
general
short in duration or length
The brief lecture lasted only ten minutes.
The short lecture lasted only ten minutes.
Commonly used to describe something that is concise or of short duration.
Law
formal
a short written statement or summary
The lawyer prepared a brief for the upcoming trial.
The lawyer prepared a short written statement for the upcoming trial.
In legal contexts, a brief is a formal document submitted to a court.
Collocations
brief explanationa short explanationbrief momenta short period of timebrief encountera short meeting or interaction
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Brief' is often used to describe something that is short or concise, such as a brief meeting or a brief explanation.
Gold Rule
Adjective vs. Noun
Remember that 'brief' can function as both an adjective (describing something short) and a noun (referring to a short written statement).
Word Origin
From Middle English 'brief', from Old French 'brief', from Latin 'brevis' meaning 'short'.
Usage Notes
The word 'brief' can be used as both an adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes something that is short in duration or length. As a noun, it refers to a short written statement or summary, especially in legal contexts.
Word Breakdown
brief
short
rootEnglish Dictionary