💼
Briefcase
BREEF-kays
Definitions
1
Work · Professional
Common
Represents professional work, business activities, or formal employment. Used to indicate going to work, business meetings, or corporate settings.
Commonly used to reference one's job, career advancement, or work-related activities.
Back to the office grind tomorrow 💼
Social media status update
Just landed a new job at the law firm! 💼
Text message
Symbolizes corporate culture and professional identity, particularly in white-collar contexts.
2
Travel · Business
Less Common
Represents business travel, work trips, or carrying important documents. Used when discussing professional journeys or transporting work materials.
Often paired with travel emojis to specifically indicate business rather than leisure travel.
Off to Chicago for the conference 💼 ✈️
Social media post
Associated with the business traveler archetype and corporate mobility.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Initially associated primarily with male business professionals and traditional corporate environments.
Early emoji adoption in professional contexts
2020
Usage shifted during pandemic to symbolize remote work and work-life balance challenges.
COVID-19 workplace transformations
Cultural Context
Symbolizes white-collar professional identity in contrast to blue-collar work. Associated with corporate hierarchies and formal business environments.
Older generations view it as a straightforward work symbol, while younger users sometimes employ it ironically to critique corporate culture.
Despite the rise of casual workplaces and remote work, the briefcase emoji persists as a symbol of professional identity in digital communication.
Regional Variations
United Kingdom
Associated with City of London financial workers and traditional office culture.
United States
Strongly associated with corporate America and the 9-to-5 workday culture.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used straightforwardly to indicate work topics, business meetings, and professional activities.
Gen_Z: Often used ironically or in reference to formal internships and first jobs. Sometimes paired with hustle culture references.
Older: Limited usage, primarily literal reference to actual briefcases or formal business settings.
Millennials: Frequently used for work-life balance discussions, career transitions, and professional networking on LinkedIn.
Common Combinations
💼💻
Office work, especially in corporate or tech environments.
Represents modern knowledge work and digital professions.
💼✈️
Business travel or work trip.
Distinguished from vacation travel, indicates professional purpose.
💼💰
Making money, career success, or profitable business.
Often used to indicate financial rewards from professional efforts.