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
The size of the total reserve is confidential, but estimates are commonly in the hundreds of millions of tons.
—
Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and a federal-district court both ruled that prosecutors had not violated Holberg's rights by failing to disclose Kirkpatrick's status as a confidential informant.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The State Department declined to comment on Khalil’s case, noting visa records are confidential under US law.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Lively's team focused on examples of information that should be kept confidential, including security measures taken to protect the actress, her husband and their children.
—Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confidential
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Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and a federal-district court both ruled that prosecutors had not violated Holberg's rights by failing to disclose Kirkpatrick's status as a confidential informant.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The State Department declined to comment on Khalil’s case, noting visa records are confidential under US law.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Lively's team focused on examples of information that should be kept confidential, including security measures taken to protect the actress, her husband and their children.
—Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 6 Mar. 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 14 Mar. 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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