confidential

adjective

con·​fi·​den·​tial ˌkän-fə-ˈden(t)-shəl 

1

a

: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class : private, secret

confidential information

b

: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could be prejudicial to the national interest compare secret, top secret

2

: marked by intimacy or willingness to confide

a confidential tone

3

: entrusted with confidences (see confidence sense 4)

a confidential clerk

confidentiality

ˌkän-fə-ˌden(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

confidentially

ˌkän-fə-ˈden(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• behind-the-scenes
• esoteric
• hush-hush
• hushed
• inside
• intimate
• nonpublic
• private
• privy
• secret

Examples of confidential in a Sentence

These documents are completely confidential.

“I have something to tell you,” John said in a confidential tone.

Her voice was quiet and confidential.

She worked as a confidential secretary to the mayor for many years.

Recent Examples on the Web

The proposal keeps revenue reports filed on a STAR bond district confidential. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2024

On May 16, 2022, the disclosure of an FBI affidavit alleging Anaheim mayor Harry Sidhu had shared a confidential land appraisal with the Angels in the hope of securing a million-dollar campaign contribution from them forever tainted a stadium sale four years in the making. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2024

The collaboration, in his account, was part of a broader arrangement with the Sunday Times in which Ford delivered confidential details about Britain’s rich and powerful by using dishonest means, including changing their bank passwords and adopting false personas in calls to government agencies. —Aaron C. Davis, Washington Post, 17 June 2024

Janice McNair, who assumed ownership of the Texans after her husband, Robert McNair, died in 2018, submitted a two-page affidavit requesting the sealing of all court records to protect her confidential information. —Evan Rosen, New York Daily News, 13 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin confīdentia, taken as base of confidence entry 1 + -al entry 1 (perhaps after French confidentiel)

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

confidential

adjective

con·​fi·​den·​tial ˌkän-fə-ˈden-chəl 

1

: secret entry 1 sense 1a, private

confidential information

2

: indicating or suggesting closeness : intimate

a confidential tone of voice

3

: trusted with secret matters

a confidential secretary

confidentially

-ˈdench-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

confidential

adjective

con·​fi·​den·​tial ˌkän-fi-ˈden-chəl 

1

: known or conveyed only to a limited number of people

a confidential disclosure

2

: marked by or indicative of intimacy, mutual trust, or willingness to confide especially between parties one of whom is in a position of superiority

the confidential relationship of doctor and patient

3

: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could be prejudicial to the national interest

confidentiality

ˌkän-fi-ˌden-chē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

confidentially adverb