briefcase

noun

brief·​case ˈbrēf-ˌkās How to pronounce briefcase (audio)
Synonyms of briefcasenext
: a flat flexible case for carrying papers or books

Examples of briefcase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Attention now turns to Wednesday’s Budget to see if Healey will pull a surprise announcement out his red briefcase to secure the facility’s future. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026 Mid-October in New York City is often filled with gloomy gray days, and the Financial District—the Big Apple’s steely home for big business, bougie briefcases, and skyscrapers—tends to be a pretty colorless place. — Eden Stuart, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026 There are also premium leather briefcases, travel bags, and overnight bags, priced $2,000 to $3,000. — David Moin, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026 Each briefcase-size unit plugs right into an outlet and communicates with its Pila peers through a mesh network. — Richard Eisenberg, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for briefcase

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of briefcase was in 1900

Rhymes for briefcase

See All Rhymes for briefcase

Browse Nearby Words

brief bag
briefcase
briefing
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Briefcase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/briefcase. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

briefcase

noun
brief·​case ˈbrēf-ˌkās How to pronounce briefcase (audio)
: a flat case for carrying papers or books

More from Merriam-Webster on briefcase

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for briefcase

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All