confidential
6 synonyms and 4 antonyms for confidential, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Meant to be kept secret and shared only with a limited group of people.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
hush-hush
Antonyms
How to use confidential
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
confidential information
strictly confidential
confidential report
Etymology
From Latin cōnfīdentia plus the suffix -al, possibly modeled on French confidentiel.
Full origin of confidential →Frequently asked questions
What does “confidential” mean?
The word “confidential” means meant to be kept secret and shared only with a limited group of people. In plain terms, private and secret — not to be shared beyond a trusted circle.
How do you pronounce “confidential”?
“Confidential” is pronounced kon-fih-DEHN-shuhl (/ˌkɔn.fɪˈdɛn.ʃəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “confidential” in a sentence?
Here is “confidential” used in a sentence: “The report was marked confidential and locked in a safe.”
What part of speech is “confidential”?
“Confidential” is an adjective.
Where does the word “confidential” come from?
The word “confidential” comes from Latin. From Latin cōnfīdentia plus the suffix -al, possibly modeled on French confidentiel.
Is “confidential” a common word?
“Confidential” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between confidential and private?
Confidential means information is meant to be kept secret and shared only with a limited, authorized group, often in a professional or legal setting. Private is broader and more personal, describing anything not meant for public view, so all confidential matters are private, but not everything private is formally confidential.
What is the difference between confidential and classified?
Confidential describes information meant to be kept secret and shared only with certain people, used widely in business, medicine, and law. Classified specifically means information restricted by a government or military security system, and "confidential" is in fact one of the levels used within such classification schemes.
What is the difference between confidential and secret?
Both mean information is not to be shared freely. "Confidential" implies it may be shared within a defined, trusted group that is obliged to protect it, often formally, while "secret" simply means it is kept hidden from others and carries a stronger, more absolute sense of concealment.
