confidentiality

American  

[kahn-fi-den-shee-al-i-tee] / ˌkɑn fɪˌdɛn ʃiˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

confidentialities plural

1. the quality or fact of being confidential, private, or restricted to certain parties, usually by agreement or formal requirement.

2. something confidential or private; confidence.

3. a rule or expectation within a particular field of activity that the restriction of private information is to be respected.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• non-confidentiality
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• confidentialities
  plural

Explanation

Confidentiality is what you observe when you keep things secret. If you happen to be a mafia boss with lots of dark secrets, you'll want to be sure you can count on complete confidentiality from your wife and family. Confidentiality is important not just to people involved in illegal activities. You expect your close friends and family to keep your secrets — you count on their confidentiality. Confidentiality might also apply to your job — if your company is working on a new computer game, confidentiality is essential to prevent leaks to your competitors. The word confidentiality includes the Latin root fides, which means "faith," or "trust."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

confidentiality confidentialities

Guests are said to have signed confidentiality agreements and will not be allowed to have their phones during the ceremony, which is expected to begin with mid-afternoon cocktails before a reception going into the night.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

Polymarket said it “prohibits trading based on stolen information, illegal tips, or information obtained in breach of a duty of trust, confidentiality, or other legal obligation.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026

The city has said that it took disciplinary action in response to the investigation but declined to provide details, citing confidentiality requirements involving personnel matters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026

“For domestic violence services as a whole, confidentiality is the pillar that holds us to being able to do what we do,” Nikhita Ved, a director at the National Domestic Violence Hotline, told me.

From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026

“And we weren’t supposed to contact any newspapers or TV stations. James Reardon wanted us all to sign confidentiality statements. But I refused.”

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The lawyers said her role was to "ensure the club's established and robust safeguarding structures, procedures and necessary confidentialities were followed and respected throughout".

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Related Words

• confidence
• isolation
• mystery
• reticence
• silence
• solitude