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

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, is under investigation for potentially sharing confidential U.K. government reports with Epstein.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those existing rules say, “You must never use privileged or confidential information for personal gain or tell, ‘tip,’ or share information you learned through work with others.”

From Barron's

Those existing rules say, “You must never use privileged or confidential information for personal gain or tell, ‘tip,’ or share information you learned through work with others.”

From Barron's

While Hubbard keeps his client list confidential, some high-profile buyers, such as misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and YouTuber and philanthropist MrBeast, have publicly acknowledged purchasing his bunkers.

From Barron's

Through a spokesperson, the Riverside Police Department declined to answer questions about the officers, “due to the confidential nature of the personnel action which has not completed its process.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• classified
• hush-hush
• intimate
• private