briefs

• IPA^(key): /bɹiːfs/
• Rhymes: -iːfs

briefs

1. plural of brief

briefs pl (plural only)

1. (usually in the plural) A very short, close-fitting type of underpants.
   • 2008, Dan Peek, Why Do They Dress That Way?: People’s Place Book No. 7, page 80:

     Briefs for men and women were not popular in America until the 1930s.

   • 2012, Dan Stephenson, The Underwater Widow:

     Yes, Gentlemen’s Quarterly wrote that Archie wears briefs, like it was something everyone wanted to know.

2. Swim briefs.
   • 2012, Luis Algorri, You’ll Hear From Me: A Gay Story about Passion and Love:

     I fetched my briefs, pulled them on, and we left the changing room.

3. (chiefly Australia, informal) Male underpant bikini briefs.
   • 2012, Joe Tog, Aussie Prison Breaks: Not All Escapees Are Desperados:

     Galvanised, I jumped--the clatter of keys rang clear as I thrust the knife, handle down, into the back of my briefs.

Despite being a single item of clothing, briefs—like pants, trousers, underpants, &c.—are considered to come in "pairs" and are counted using the phrase "pair(s) of".

• See Thesaurus:underwear
• See also Thesaurus:swim briefs.

briefs

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of brief

• FBIers, fibers, fibres