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
Adrian Fontes, the secretary of state of Arizona, says that confidential reports from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have convinced him that malicious foreign-influence operations are accelerating this year.
—
Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Under its terms, the nation’s largest retailer will be required to pay penalties for allegedly dumping in state landfills nearly 80 tons of hazardous waste and confidential customer information from its stores throughout the state.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Cisco ranks fifth on the latest Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in Europe list, which analyzes more than 1.3 million confidential survey responses, a representation of the experiences of more than 2 million employees located within the continent.
—John Kell, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
The company, which was valued at $3 billion in June, is now looking to raise roughly $500 million, though that could change, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be named because the talks are confidential.
—Kate Rooney,rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confidential 
Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Under its terms, the nation’s largest retailer will be required to pay penalties for allegedly dumping in state landfills nearly 80 tons of hazardous waste and confidential customer information from its stores throughout the state.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Cisco ranks fifth on the latest Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in Europe list, which analyzes more than 1.3 million confidential survey responses, a representation of the experiences of more than 2 million employees located within the continent.
—John Kell, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2024
The company, which was valued at $3 billion in June, is now looking to raise roughly $500 million, though that could change, according to a person familiar with the matter who declined to be named because the talks are confidential.
—Kate Rooney,rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confidential
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Dictionary Entries Near confidential
Cite this Entry
“Confidential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidential. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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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