confidence

The word “confidence” means a feeling of self-assurance and belief in your own abilities. In plain terms, belief in yourself or in something being true — or a secret shared privately.

“Confidence” is pronounced KON-fih-duhns (/ˈkɑn.fɪ.dəns/ in IPA).

Here is “confidence” used in a sentence: “Her confidence grew with every performance.”

The opposite of “confidence” — its antonyms — are timidity, shyness, bashfulness and insecurity.

“Confidence” is a noun.

The word “confidence” comes from Latin. From Latin cōnfīdentia, from cōnfīdō ("to trust fully") — from con- + fīdō ("trust").

“Confidence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Confidence” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of self-assurance and belief in your own abilities.

Confidence is a healthy belief in your own abilities, grounded in experience and open to being wrong. Arrogance is an inflated sense of superiority that dismisses others and overrates itself. Confidence quietly trusts itself; arrogance needs to look down on people to feel secure. One attracts, the other repels.

Yes. Confidence is not fixed at birth; it grows with preparation, practice, and small successes. Mastering a skill, facing fears gradually, and reflecting on past achievements all strengthen self-belief. Even acting confidently in modest situations tends to build genuine assurance over time. It is a habit as much as a trait.

Confidence is belief in your ability to do specific things — speak in public, pass a test, handle a job. Self-esteem is your overall sense of worth as a person. You can be confident at a task yet low in self-esteem, or the reverse. One is about capability, the other about value.

Confidence is generally positive and valuable — it helps people take on challenges, recover from setbacks, and communicate clearly. The caution is balance: too little breeds hesitation, while too much tips into overconfidence and poor judgement. Well-founded confidence, matched to real ability, is the healthy middle ground.