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
All calls are toll-free and confidential.
—
Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
The union regularly receives financial disclosures from every club, but under the condition that the union keeps them confidential.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Treasury statement also criticized Petro for sharing confidential anti-money laundering information in 2024, which led to Colombia’s suspension from The Egmont Group, an international financial intelligence organization.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, Nocella said.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confidential
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Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
The union regularly receives financial disclosures from every club, but under the condition that the union keeps them confidential.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The Treasury statement also criticized Petro for sharing confidential anti-money laundering information in 2024, which led to Colombia’s suspension from The Egmont Group, an international financial intelligence organization.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, Nocella said.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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