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. 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; confide, -ence

Example Sentences

The trademark right hand still carried threat, but the explosiveness, timing and confidence that once made him so dangerous were not as prevalent.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

S&P Global’s chief business economist noted business confidence dipped but hoped for a swift resolution to the war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“Amanda was so resilient on the journey. She just never lost confidence in the project.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

They tend to form gradually as confidence begins to fracture, often invisibly at first.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

I put a lot of confidence in Old Rowdy; and if he was scared, then it was time for me to be getting away from there.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

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