confidential
adjective
con·fi·den·tial
ˌkän-fə-ˈden(t)-shəl 
1
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
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
But in a possible attempt to discredit Pryor, her name and some details of her confidential complaint, available only to the mayor, commissioners and senior city employees, have been circulated publicly.
—
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025
The organizations kept talking, though, and agreed to settle for a confidential sum, averting a jury trial.
—Kevin Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
The list, published in partnership with data firm Plant-A, was determined through an assessment of publicly accessible data, interviews with human resource professionals and large-scale confidential online surveys conducted among employees.
—Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
His trial committee — the five volunteer writers tasked with adjudicating rule violations — recommended a lesser, confidential censure along with some equity and inclusion training.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for confidential
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Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 10 May 2025
The organizations kept talking, though, and agreed to settle for a confidential sum, averting a jury trial.
—Kevin Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2025
The list, published in partnership with data firm Plant-A, was determined through an assessment of publicly accessible data, interviews with human resource professionals and large-scale confidential online surveys conducted among employees.
—Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
His trial committee — the five volunteer writers tasked with adjudicating rule violations — recommended a lesser, confidential censure along with some equity and inclusion training.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for confidential
Cite this Entry
“Confidential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidential. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
confidentially
adverb
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