Definition of briefing

The word "briefing" evolved from the verb "to brief," which originally meant "to make short" or "to summarize." The earliest recorded use of "brief" in this sense dates back to the 16th century. The term "briefing" gained popularity in the military during World War II, referring to concise reports given to officers before missions. This usage quickly spread to other contexts, including business and politics, where it became synonymous with concisely informing someone about a particular topic. Today, "briefing" refers to a short and focused presentation or discussion, usually intended to provide essential information for decision-making or action.