The arrondissement of Briey was created as part of the department Moselle in 1800.[4] Since 1871 it has been a part of the department Meurthe-et-Moselle.[5] In January 2023, it lost 13 communes to the arrondissement of Toul.[6]
As a result of the reorganisation of the cantons of France which came into effect in 2015, the borders of the cantons are no longer related to the borders of the arrondissements. The cantons of the arrondissement of Briey were, as of January 2015:[7]