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
London’s Metropolitan Police earlier this week opened a criminal inquiry into files suggesting Mandelson accepted money from Epstein and passed him confidential financial information while serving as a government minister 15 years ago.
—
Peter Weber, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
The collaboration between the two companies is being discussed in tandem with Amazon's ongoing talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential.
—Ashley Capoot,kate Rooney,annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Despite a new law requiring the release of the documents, millions more pages remain confidential while hundreds of department lawyers scour them to prevent the release of the names of people who accused Epstein of abuse.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
All calls are toll-free and confidential.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for confidential
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Peter Weber, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
The collaboration between the two companies is being discussed in tandem with Amazon's ongoing talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI, according to a source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the details are confidential.
—Ashley Capoot,kate Rooney,annie Palmer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Despite a new law requiring the release of the documents, millions more pages remain confidential while hundreds of department lawyers scour them to prevent the release of the names of people who accused Epstein of abuse.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
All calls are toll-free and confidential.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
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 Feb. 2026.
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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