confidential

American

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

adjective

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

a confidential remark.

Synonyms:

private, restricted
indicating confidence or intimacy; imparting private matters.

a confidential tone of voice.

Synonyms:

familiar, intimate
having another's trust or confidence; entrusted with secrets or private affairs.

a confidential secretary.

Synonyms:

private, trustworthy
(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 British

/ ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl /

adjective

spoken, written, or given in confidence; secret; private
entrusted with another's confidence or secret affairs

a confidential secretary
suggestive of or denoting intimacy

a confidential approach

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It forbids therapists from insisting on spreading their personal views through confidential, sensitive conversations with trusting minors happening behind closed doors.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

Elon Musk's SpaceX has filed confidential papers with US securities regulators for what could be the largest-ever public stock offering, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on Wednesday.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

SpaceX reportedly filed confidential IPO paperwork, setting the stage for a listing as soon as June.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Tesla stock is up almost 3% in afternoon action on Wednesday after Musk’s SpaceX reportedly filed confidential paperwork for an initial public offering.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Manet leaned forward and spoke in more confidential tones as well.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023