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. as a secret

Other Word Forms

• hyperconfidence noun
• nonconfidence noun
• superconfidence 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 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

Even now, she says it affects her confidence.

Read more on BBC

"At BBVA, we look towards the future with confidence and enthusiasm," the bank's chairman Carlos Torres Vila said in a statement.

Read more on Barron's

With that decline, the stock offers a 3.8% dividend yield and witnessed insider buying from the CEO earlier this year, signaling potential confidence in a turnaround.

Read more on Barron's

Those banks were among the hardest hit by a crisis of confidence in the industry after Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic collapsed in 2023.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Quanta Services trades just 3% below its 52-week high and appears to be gaining confidence above the key $400 level, which previously acted as resistance with sharp rejections in August and September.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.