confidence

[ kon-fi-duhns ]

noun

1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing:

   We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.

   Synonyms: dependence, reliance, faith

   Antonyms: mistrust

2. belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance:

   His lack of confidence defeated him.

3. certitude; assurance:

   He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.

4. a secret that is confided or imparted trustfully:

   The friends exchanged many confidences over the years.

5. vote of confidence.
6. presumption; impudence:

   Her disdainful look crushed the confidence of the brash young man.

7. Archaic. something that gives confidence; ground of trust.

confidence

/ ˈkɒnfɪdəns /

noun

1. a feeling of trust in a person or thing

   I have confidence in his abilities

2. belief in one's own abilities; self-assurance
3. trust or a trustful relationship

   take me into your confidence

4. something confided or entrusted; secret
5. in confidence
   as a secret

Other Words From

• hy·per·con·fi·dence noun
• non·con·fi·dence noun
• su·per·con·fi·dence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of confidence¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin confīdentia; confide, -ence

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing confidence

In addition to the idiom beginning with confidence , also see in confidence ; take into one's confidence .

Synonym Study

See trust. 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.

Example Sentences

But locals there say any money deposited is thrown into an unlocked cupboard behind the tellers, hardly inspiring confidence.

From The Daily Beast

For his part, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has expressed his “full confidence” in Representative Scalise.

From The Daily Beast

What designer West lacks in productivity, he more than makes up for in pure, unadulterated confidence and blind anger.

From The Daily Beast

The FARC has a long way to go to win the confidence of the Colombian people.

From The Daily Beast

Mailer would argue, for example, that timidity does more harm to the novelist than donning a mask of extreme self-confidence.

From The Daily Beast

With childlike confidence he follows the advice of some more or less honest dealer.

From Project Gutenberg

We have been in the profession some years, Mr. Pickwick, and have been honoured with the confidence of many excellent clients.

From Project Gutenberg

She embraced Otteline; and gave him her hand to kiss, with repeated expressions of future confidence in the husband of her friend.

From Project Gutenberg

Her work is full of life and strength, and her touch shows her confidence in herself and her technical knowledge.

From Project Gutenberg

Not more than one adult worker in ten—so at least it might with confidence be estimated—is employed on necessary things.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assurance
• certainty
• courage
• determination
• morale
• poise
• spirit
• tenacity