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

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

On another occasion, prosecutors say, a Mirati Therapeutics board member, who also worked at Lewis’ biotech hedge fund, told the billionaire about confidential, positive results from the company’s clinical trial. —Peter Blumberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Lowell also argued that IRS agents Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler trampled Biden’s due process rights by giving rounds of news interviews on the case and releasing confidential tax documents to the public. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Members of an advisory group that could help change Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department policy have agreed to keep any information about their closed meetings confidential. —Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024

The censure for mishandling confidential information comes from a Jan. 29 incident, when Eisenberg reviewed a 2,000-page investigative report on her behavior. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024

But Hur insisted that his audience was still Garland alone, citing a regulation which states that the special counsel should prepare a confidential report for the Attorney General. —Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024

The firm’s practice in Australia — which is also slashing jobs — came under fire for leaking confidential government tax plans to clients. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 22 Mar. 2024

The cost to taxpayers would between $4.4 billion and $6.4 billion according to a confidential financial analysis obtained by The Star. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 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