briefcase

/ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/

//ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"briefcase" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“briefcase” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #25,688. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#25,688
frequency rank, English
31,241
“B” headwords
13
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A case used for carrying documents, especially for business.

Key facts for briefcase
PropertyValue
Headwordbriefcase
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/
Letters9
Frequency rank#25,688
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “briefcase” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). briefcase lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around briefcase (IPA /ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #25,688 among 31,241 “B” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for briefcase, with forms such as "bbriefcase", "birefcase", and "breifcase". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From brief + case. The correct English form is briefcase, spelled B-R-I-E-F-C-A-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    A case used for carrying documents, especially for business.
  2. 2
    In Microsoft Windows, a folder that supports file synchronization between itself and another folder.

Etymology

From brief + case.

Synonyms

attaché case

This word in other languages

maletín(Español)portefeuille(Français)Aktentasche(Deutsch)maleta(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • bbriefcase
  • birefcase
  • breifcase
  • briecfase
  • briefacse
  • briefcaes
  • briefcasse
  • briefccase
  • briefcsae
  • brieffcase
  • brifecase
  • brriefcase
  • rbiefcase

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of briefcase - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

bbriefcase1birefcase2breifcase2briecfase2briefacse2briefcaes2briefcasse1briefccase1
Edit distance from "briefcase"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "briefcase"?
"briefcase" is spelled B-R-I-E-F-C-A-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/.
What does "briefcase" mean?
As a noun, "briefcase" means: A case used for carrying documents, especially for business.
What are common misspellings of "briefcase"?
Common misspellings include "bbriefcase", "birefcase", "breifcase", "briecfase", "briefacse". The correct spelling is "briefcase".
How do you pronounce "briefcase"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "briefcase" is /ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "briefcase"?
From brief + case. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “briefcase”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-R-I-E-F-C-A-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list