confidential

adjective

con·fi·den·tial ˌkän-fə-ˈden(t)-shəl

: intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class : private, secret

confidential information

: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could be prejudicial to the national interest compare secret, top secret

: marked by intimacy or willingness to confide

a confidential tone

: 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

Example Sentences

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 According to Drive, the manufacturer confirmed the news in a confidential meeting with dealers. —

Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 31 May 2023 While the majority of an interview could have gone as perfectly as possible, that small remaining amount that might have included inappropriate anecdotes, disparaging comments and/or information meant to be kept confidential, can become the headline. —

Allie Gruensfelder, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2023 She was arrested in 2017 on suspicion of leaking a confidential document to nonprofit news site, The Intercept. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023 Ransomware is a type of software often used to extort money from organizations by threatening to block access to files or release confidential information unless money is paid. —

Everton Bailey Jr., Dallas News, 16 May 2023 Durham revealed that even after the Steele dossier fiasco, Danchenko was on the FBI’s payroll as a confidential human source from March 2017 to October 2020 before he was charged. —

Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner, 15 May 2023 The review and the original business case released to The Globe were heavily redacted because they were deemed confidential government advice. —

Kelly Grant/the Globe And Mail (canada), San Francisco Chronicle, 15 May 2023 The operations team sends confidential emails to somewhere in the range of five to 10 hotels per away game to get bids for the necessary dates. —

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023 Please choose the response that has the least personal, private, or confidential information belonging to others. —

James Vincent, The Verge, 9 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confidential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.