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

Portillo settled her lawsuit with Urban Alchemy; the terms are confidential. —Calmatters, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

Independent investigator found Dan Quirk badgered city employees and consultants and failed to follow city policies DEL MAR — Del Mar City Councilmember Dan Quirk this week was censured a second time by his colleagues, this time for bullying city employees and releasing confidential information. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024

Jose Huizar has been allowed to delay the start date for his 13-year prison term, citing confidential medical information, according to recent court filings. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at [phone] and offers assistance with e-filing for restraining orders at [phone]. —Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024

Monument revealed health information to third parties including Meta and Google without users’ consent, the FTC alleged, while misleading users into thinking their health data was kept confidential. —Katie Palmer, STAT, 11 Apr. 2024

Musk’s attorney filed multiple requests to keep the transcript of his nearly two-hour testimony confidential, but they were denied by the judge. —Amrita Khalid, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024

Alexander Mercurio told the FBI's confidential source the attack plan, feds say The FBI identified Mercurio as an online student at a local school who was issued a laptop and Wi-Fi Hotspot, court records show. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024

TikTok received significant criticism for a 2022 incident in which company employees used the app’s location data to investigate whether co-workers leaked confidential information to reporters. —Daniel Lyons, TIME, 3 Apr. 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