confidence

American  

[kon-fi-duhns] / ˈkɒn fɪ dəns /

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. see 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.

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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.

confidence British  

/ 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. as a secret

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confidence More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing confidence

• in confidence
• take into one's confidence

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Usage

What does confidence mean? Confidence is full trust or belief in the reliability of someone or something, The fans had confidence that their team would win. Confidence is also a belief in one’s self, also called self-confidence. If you have confidence in yourself that you can earn a spot on the basketball team, you believe you can get on the team. Confidence is also a certitude about something, as in When you walk with confidence, people pay attention to you. A confidence is also a secret that you share with someone. To take someone into your confidence is to share a secret with them, trusting that they won’t share it with anyone else. Example: He showed confidence during the interview so I think he is the better candidate for the position.

Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• hyperconfidence
  noun
• nonconfidence
  noun
• superconfidence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of confidence

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

Explanation

The noun confidence means "a feeling of trust and firm belief in yourself or others." A person who walks into a room, smiling at everyone and not at all nervous about the speech she's about to give? She has confidence. Confidence comes from the Middle French word of the same spelling, which means "firmly trusting, bold." You can have confidence in yourself, another person, your country, even your rain boots — what you put your confidence in will not let you down. Confidence can also mean "in secret," like when your neighbor tells you in confidence that he and his family are thinking of moving away — he doesn't want others to know.

Example Sentences

Confidence among U.S. small businesses inched up in April, though sentiment continues to be hampered by rising cost pressures.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Confidence in policing has been shaken "to its very foundations" over the handling of Katie Simpson's murder, Stormont's justice committee chairman has said.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Confidence that fighting in the Middle East could end soon is growing.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Confidence in the 21-country currency area was already weak, with sentiment falling faster than expected in February amid rising global trade volatility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Polling with Confidence Estimating characteristics of a population, such as the percentage who favor a certain candidate or a particular brand of dog food, is, like hypothesis testing, simple in principle.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

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