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

• assured
• secure
• self-asserting
• self-assured
• self-confident

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

That said, pregnant people and their families should feel confident that acetaminophen is safe and should not avoid using it when necessary, says Dr. Keough. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024

Whatever hope Woods had of staying in contention disappeared, along with his confident swing and mastery of the greens. —Dave Skretta, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024

Largely unchanged since the current generation debuted in 2018, the Odyssey is ideal for a family of one seeking a high-sitting, confident vehicle with plenty of space for friends, work equipment or leisure stuff. —James Raia, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024

The post-pandemic picture is improving but from such a low that no one can feel confident about moving forward. —Charles McNulty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024

Lenny Kravitz was another client, a man confident enough to wear a pair of tight leather trousers. —Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

That’s probably why Tony’s is confident about its bet in the U.S., aiming to reach 20% more stores in the next year. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024

But Martin Mishler, Sabetha’s city attorney, said the city is confident the police handled the situation correctly. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024

The board of directors is confident that under Tobin's leadership, Ascent Business Partners will continue to thrive and be the AI leader and innovator in the Contact Center industry. —Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024

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

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