confidence
[kon-fi-duh ns]
- full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing: We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
- belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance: His lack of confidence defeated him.
- certitude; assurance: He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.
- a secret that is confided or imparted trustfully: The friends exchanged many confidences over the years.
- (especially in European politics) the wish to retain an incumbent government in office, as shown by a vote in a particular issue: a vote of confidence.
- presumption; impudence: Her disdainful look crushed the confidence of the brash young man.
- Archaic. something that gives confidence; ground of trust.
- in confidence, as a secret or private matter, not to be divulged or communicated to others; with belief in a person's sense of discretion: I told him in confidence.
Origin of confidence
Synonyms
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com1. faith, reliance, dependence.
Synonym study
1. See trust. 2. Confidence, assurance both imply a faith in oneself. Confidence may imply trust in oneself or arrogant self-conceit. Assurance implies even more sureness of oneself; this may be shown as undisturbed calm or as offensive boastfulness.
Antonyms
1. mistrust.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for confidence
Contemporary Examples
The FARC has a long way to go to win the confidence of the Colombian people.
Today, she stands out much like she has her entire life, though her confidence has grown immensely.
At thirteen years old, de Forest speaks with the confidence and the knowledge of someone much older.
Tourism has built my confidence [and] improved my interpersonal skills.
If confidence and strength were instilled in her at a young age, glamour was something she pursued.
Historical Examples
Yet the old man's confidence in the young man's acumen was invulnerable.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
I had no secrets from them (hear, hear), and this confidence was reciprocated on their part.
Explorations in AustraliaJohn Forrest
It was almost impossible to win their confidence, or to get information from them.
Harriet, The Moses of Her PeopleSarah H. Bradford
She was in his confidence in 1858-9, and he had a great regard for her, which he often expressed to me.
Harriet, The Moses of Her PeopleSarah H. Bradford
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confidence reposed in me.
confidence
- a feeling of trust in a person or thingI have confidence in his abilities
- belief in one's own abilities; self-assurance
- trust or a trustful relationshiptake me into your confidence
- something confided or entrusted; secret
- in confidence as a secret
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for confidence
n.
early 15c., from Middle French confidence or directly from Latin confidentia, from confidentem (nominative confidens) "firmly trusting, bold," present participle of confidere "to have full trust or reliance," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + fidere "to trust" (see faith). For sense of "swindle" see con (adj.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with confidence
confidence
In addition to the idiom beginning with confidence
also see:
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.