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

Chesney’s core philosophies include fostering a growth mindset and instilling confidence through competitions in which the celebrations are judged as closely as what happens on the field.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We are grateful for the Board’s confidence and look forward to working with the Gaming Commission as the process moves to its next phase.”

Read more on Barron's

That confidence stems from O'Neill's success on the field in the past five weeks, when he has lost only once - 3-1 at Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Read more on BBC

The repeated missteps led investors and customers to lose confidence in the bank.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His absence Sunday left undrafted rookie Max Brosmer under center, and the shutout loss didn’t provide any confidence that the Vikings have any option left other than hoping that McCarthy improves.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.