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

Explanation

If you get a letter stamped confidential, that means you're not supposed to tell anyone else what it says. It's private and you're not supposed to blab about it. Confidential suggests that you're being let in on a secret — as in Kitchen Confidential, the title of a book by Anthony Bourdain, a famous chef, in which he tells unappetizing stories about the restaurant industry. If you confide in someone, you are trusting him or her with confidential or secret information. Choose your confidants wisely!

Example Sentences

We will keep your name and other identifying information confidential unless you give us permission to use it.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

One bit of the law might say that vetting must be a confidential process.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“We see the announcement as positive and supportive of earnings growth,” says Nebhani, noting that details of the portfolio are confidential.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Shell’s resignation comes after an investigation into whether he disclosed confidential company information to a man who claimed to have consulted for the veteran media executive.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Keeping patient information confidential was emerging as a standard practice, but it wasn’t law, so releasing it wasn’t out of the question.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• classified
• hush-hush
• intimate
• private