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
Synonyms
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
Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker, who is expected to go to trial soon for allegedly leaking a confidential civil grand jury report and lying about it, trailed far behind after Election night in his quest for reelection against political newcomer Kelly Cox.
—
Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Any vendor that accesses or stores your sensitive, protected or confidential data must be thoroughly evaluated.
—Paul Blough, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Trump has denied all allegations in this case, as well as four other criminal cases, two of which revolve around his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and one, which was dismissed, where he was charged for taking confidential documents from the White House at the end of his presidency.
—Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Business owners usually prefer arbitration, which is confidential and usually overseen by experts, to litigation.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confidential 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Any vendor that accesses or stores your sensitive, protected or confidential data must be thoroughly evaluated.
—Paul Blough, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Trump has denied all allegations in this case, as well as four other criminal cases, two of which revolve around his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and one, which was dismissed, where he was charged for taking confidential documents from the White House at the end of his presidency.
—Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024
Business owners usually prefer arbitration, which is confidential and usually overseen by experts, to litigation.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for confidential
Dictionary Entries Near confidential
Cite this Entry
“Confidential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidential. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share