debrief

[ dee-breef ]
See synonyms for: debriefdebriefing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to interrogate (a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc.) on return from a mission in order to assess the conduct and results of the mission.

  2. to question formally and systematically in order to obtain useful intelligence or information: Political and economic experts routinely debrief important defectors about conditions in their home country.

  1. to subject to prohibitions against revealing or discussing classified information, as upon separation from a position of military or political sensitivity.

  2. Psychology. (after an experiment) to disclose to the subject the purpose of the experiment and any reasons for deception or manipulation.

Origin of debrief

1
First recorded in 1940–45; de- + brief

Other words from debrief

  • de·brief·er, noun
  • de·brief·ing, noun

Words Nearby debrief

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use debrief in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for debrief

debrief

/ (diːˈbriːf) /


verb
  1. (of a soldier, astronaut, diplomat, etc) to make or (of his superiors) to elicit a report after a mission or event: Compare brief (def. 13)

Derived forms of debrief

  • debriefing, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012