confidential

[kon-fi-den-shuh l] /ˌkɒn fɪˈdɛn ʃəl/

adjective

spoken, written, acted on, etc., in strict privacy or secrecy; secret:

a confidential remark.

indicating confidence or intimacy; imparting private matters:

a confidential tone of voice.

having another's trust or confidence; entrusted with secrets or private affairs:

a confidential secretary.

bearing the classification confidential, usually being above restricted and below secret.
limited to persons authorized to use information, documents, etc., so classified.
Compare classification (def 5).

Origin

1645-55; < Latin confīdenti(a) confidence + -al¹

Related forms

confidentiality, confidentialness, noun

confidentially, adverb

nonconfidential, adjective

nonconfidentially, adverb

nonconfidentialness, noun

nonconfidentiality, noun

quasi-confidential, adjective

quasi-confidentially, adverb

Synonyms

1. restricted, private. 2. intimate, familiar. 3. trusted, trustworthy, private. See familiar.

Examples from the web for confidentiality

To lawyers, protecting clients' confidentiality is a cornerstone of the practice of law.
The government has a point on the need for some confidentiality.
Before he left, a company staffer demanded that he sign a final confidentiality agreement.
Most measures include some clauses to protect confidentiality.
For senior-level searches, confidentiality can be the source of high anxiety for both candidates and search committees.
Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding applicants must be released upon request.
The mere existence of seeding trials indicates that the balance between confidentiality and disclosure is skewed.
Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding the applicants must be released upon request.
But confidentiality clauses do feature increasingly in the job contracts.
One is that board confidentiality is incredibly important.

British Dictionary definitions for confidentiality

confidential

/ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl/

adjective

spoken, written, or given in confidence; secret; private

entrusted with another's confidence or secret affairs: a confidential secretary

suggestive of or denoting intimacy: a confidential approach

Derived Forms

confidentiality, confidentialness, noun
confidentially, adverb

Word Origin and History for confidentiality

confidential

adj.

1759, from Latin confidentia (see confidence) + -al (1). Related: Confidentiality; confidentially.

confidentiality in Medicine

confidentiality con·fi·den·ti·al·i·ty (kŏn'fĭ-děn'shē-āl'ĭ-tē)
n.
The ethical principle or legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient gives consent permitting disclosure.