brief

Academic Word List, sublist 6.

About 41.12 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Of short duration; happening quickly. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   Her reign was brief but spectacular.

2. adjective Concise; taking few words.

   His speech of acceptance was brief but moving.

3. adjective Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
4. adjective Rife; common; prevalent.
5. noun A writ summoning one to answer; an official letter or mandate. A short papal letter.
6. noun A short papal letter.
7. noun An answer to any action.
8. noun A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.

Similar words

abbreviated concise short little legal brief moment immediate fleeting short-lived transient

Often followed by

and period description history account summary discussion review but

Word family

briefed briefer briefers briefest briefing briefly briefness briefnesses briefs