watching brief

noun

In criminal cases, a brief to represent a client who is not a direct party to the suit, and to serve as an observer.

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Meanings

nounwatching brief (plural watching briefs)

plural watching briefs

  1. lawIn criminal cases, a brief to represent a client who is not a direct party to the suit, and to serve as an observer.
  2. archaeologyThe monitoring, by an archaeologist employed by a developer, of excavation and other building work in order to identify and record any archaeological finds and features.
Cite this entry
APA

watching brief. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watching%20brief

MLA

“watching brief.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watching%20brief. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “watching brief,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/watching%20brief.

Source: watching brief on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.