confidential
adjective
con·fi·den·tial
ˌkän-fə-ˈden(t)-shəl 
1
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
Synonyms
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
Justice Department regulations call for special counsels appointed by the attorney general to submit a confidential report at the conclusion of their investigations.
—
Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Special counsels are mandated by internal Justice Department regulations to prepare confidential reports at the conclusion of their investigations to summarize their findings, and the attorney general can determine whether to release the report publicly.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Customized and confidential mental therapy sessions.
—Aditya Malik, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
That includes what bank executives have called an opaque Fed stress test process, long turnaround times for merger approvals and what bankers have said are sometimes unfair confidential bank exams, Barrage said.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confidential 
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Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Special counsels are mandated by internal Justice Department regulations to prepare confidential reports at the conclusion of their investigations to summarize their findings, and the attorney general can determine whether to release the report publicly.
—Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 8 Jan. 2025
Customized and confidential mental therapy sessions.
—Aditya Malik, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
That includes what bank executives have called an opaque Fed stress test process, long turnaround times for merger approvals and what bankers have said are sometimes unfair confidential bank exams, Barrage said.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for confidential
Dictionary Entries Near confidential
Cite this Entry
“Confidential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidential. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
confidentially
adverb
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