confidential

[kon-fi-den-shuhl]

adjective

1. spoken, written, acted on, etc., in strict privacy or secrecy; secret.

   a confidential remark.

   Synonyms: private, restricted

2. indicating confidence or intimacy; imparting private matters.

   a confidential tone of voice.

   Synonyms: familiar, intimate

3. having another's trust or confidence; entrusted with secrets or private affairs.

   a confidential secretary.

   Synonyms: private, trustworthy

4. (of information, a document, etc.)

   1. bearing the classification confidential, usually being above restricted and below secret.

   2. limited to persons authorized to use information, documents, etc., so classified.

confidential

/ ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. spoken, written, or given in confidence; secret; private

2. entrusted with another's confidence or secret affairs

   a confidential secretary

3. suggestive of or denoting intimacy

   a confidential approach

Other Word Forms

• confidentiality noun
• confidentialness noun
• confidentially adverb
• nonconfidential adjective
• nonconfidentially adverb
• nonconfidentialness noun
• nonconfidentiality noun
• quasi-confidential adjective
• quasi-confidentially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of confidential¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin confīdenti(a) confidence + -al ¹

Synonym Study

See familiar.

Example Sentences

Internal FDA files from 2010, cited in Brezis' review, contained entire sections redacted as "confidential," including estimates of how many people might have been affected.

Read more on Science Daily

Settlement conferences are confidential and the California Evidence Code protects statements and conduct during conferences from being used to prove liability.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In doing so, though, the investors are expected to keep the companies’ identities confidential—by signing nondisclosure agreements—until they announce their new strategy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said the Journal’s description of the incident, based on the internal complaint, mischaracterized a confidential personnel matter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bell and others claim testimony that was supposed to remain confidential at so-called board of rights hearings or in internal affairs interviews was later used against them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classified 
• hush-hush 
• intimate 
• private