confidante

noun

con·​fi·​dante ˈkän-fə-ˌdänt How to pronounce confidante (audio)
 also  -ˌdant,
-dənt
: confidant
especially : one who is a woman

Did you know?

Is it confident or confidant? (Or is it confidante?)

If you find yourself unsure whether you should choose confident or confidant don’t feel bad; confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant. The difference is quite simple: confidant is a noun (meaning "a person in whom you confide things"), and confident is an adjective (defined as “having confidence”). You may well be confident in your confidant, but you would not be confidant in your confident. Although this distinction has not always been observed by writers, confidante is generally used for a female confidant. The word confidant is more frequently used to describe a man, but it may be applied to either gender.

Examples of confidante in a Sentence

She was her closest friend and confidante. only her closest confidantes know what she's going through
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The tea party was a unique, if not rare, public appearance for the Grammy-winning artist, who these days much prefers to stay at home in Los Angeles with family and a select few confidantes. Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 Burnett – creator of The Apprentice, confidante of President Donald Trump and now U.S. Special Envoy to the UK – will speak along with FX Chairman Landgraf and Zucker, who is CEO of RedBird IMI, the owner of British super-indie group All3Media. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 May 2025 In addition to Hawke as Lorenz Hart, Scott plays Richard Rodgers, Margaret Qualley is Hart’s protégé Elizabeth, and Bobby Cannavale stars as Hart’s bartender, buddy, and confidante. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025 The secret-keeper, meanwhile, is secure in their role as a confidante and trusts you more, too. Allie Volpe, Vox, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for confidante

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French confidente, feminine of confident confidant

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confidante was in 1662

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Cite this Entry

“Confidante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidante. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

confidante

noun
con·​fi·​dante ˈkän-fə-ˌdant How to pronounce confidante (audio)
-ˌdänt
: confidant
especially : one who is a woman

More from Merriam-Webster on confidante

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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