confident

adjective

con·​fi·​dent ˈkän-fə-dənt 

-ˌdent

1

: full of conviction : certain

confident of success

confident that conditions will improve

2

: having or showing assurance and self-reliance

a confident young businessman

a confident manner

3

obsolete : trustful, confiding

confidently adverb

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.

Synonyms of confident

• assured
• optimistic
• hopeful
• secure
• self-confident
• proud
• self-assured

Examples of confident in a Sentence

I am confident about my ability to do the job.

The players seem more relaxed and confident this season.

He has become more confident in his Spanish-speaking skills.

They have a confident air about them.

We are confident that conditions will improve soon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stewart feels especially confident about 2026 because of Rehmet’s special election win and the number of voters that turned out to early voting. —Samuel O’Neal 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Mar. 2026

By Becky Krystal The Washington Post Cooking chicken can flummox even the more confident home cooks among us. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

In addition, Paxton's allies are confident that the political landscape will tilt in the attorney general's favor. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

Heading into their wedding day, Christine and Vic are as confident as ever in confessionals. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin confīdent-, confīdens "trusting in oneself, assured, presumptuous," from present participle of confīdere "to put trust in, have confidence in, be sure" — more at confide

First Known Use

circa 1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for confident

• overconfident

Kids Definition

confident

adjective

con·​fi·​dent ˈkän-fəd-ənt 

-fə-ˌdent

: having or showing confidence : sure, self-assured

confident of winning

a confident manner

confidently adverb