The crossword solution for the term 'WORD BEFORE 'BRACKET' OR 'BREAK'' is TAX, which is a three-letter word. TAX is a payment made by individuals or businesses to a government in order to fund public services. It is usually based on income or profits, and is typically calculated as a percentage of the total amount earned. TAX is an important source of revenue for governments, and is used to fund public services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social security.