confidential

American  

[kon-fi-den-shuhl] / ˌkɒn fɪˈdɛn ʃəl /

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.

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confidential British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See familiar.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of confidential

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

Example Sentences

Nandy insisted security services would not be exempt from the legislation but she told the BBC the challenge was also ensuring officers, who often held confidential information, could continue to do their jobs.

From BBC

However, in October, Cal OES — under Ward’s leadership — privately considered discontinuing state funding for soil testing in the aftermath of future wildfires, according to a confidential, internal draft memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

From Los Angeles Times

A feasibility study for the transport of the Bayeux Tapestry to London, completed by three experts in March 2022, remains "confidential" at the request of the Normandy cultural authorities who commissioned it.

From Barron's

The parties are supposed to meet during that period to work out which parts should stay confidential, with any disagreements resolved by the judge.

From Los Angeles Times

Rockstar Games fired the employees from its UK studios for gross misconduct, accusing them of sharing confidential information in a public server on the Discord chat app.

From BBC

Related Words

• classified
• hush-hush
• intimate
• private