briefing
UK: ˈbriːfɪŋ | US: ˈbriːfɪŋ
n. a concise summary or set of instructions, typically given in advance of a task or event
n. a meeting where information is presented to participants, often in a military or business context
briefing = brief<short> + ing<noun suffix>
- brief (from Old French bref, Latin brevis "short") → Retains the core meaning of conciseness.
- ing (English noun-forming suffix) → Indicates the action or result of the base verb (e.g., "to brief").
Etymology Origin:
The word briefing emerged in the early 20th century, originally in military contexts, to describe the act of giving concise instructions ("briefing troops"). It combines brief (emphasizing brevity) with -ing, turning the verb "to brief" into a noun. The term later expanded to business, aviation, and general use, retaining its focus on efficient information delivery.
The manager held a quick briefing to update the team on the project’s progress.
Pilots receive a pre-flight briefing before takeoff.
The president’s daily briefing includes security and economic updates.
The journalist attended a press briefing at the White House.
A thorough briefing ensured everyone understood the emergency procedures.