confidence

[kon-fi-duh ns] /ˈkɒn fɪ dəns/
noun
1.
full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing:
We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.
2.
belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance:
His lack of confidence defeated him.
3.
certitude; assurance:
He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.
4.
a confidential communication:
to exchange confidences.
5.
(especially in European politics) the wish to retain an incumbent government in office, as shown by a vote in a particular issue:
a vote of confidence.
6.
presumption; impudence:
Her disdainful look crushed the confidence of the brash young man.
7.
Archaic. something that gives confidence; ground of trust.
Idioms
8.
in confidence, as a secret or private matter, not to be divulged or communicated to others; with belief in a person's sense of discretion:
I told him in confidence.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin confīdentia. See confide, -ence
Related forms
hyperconfidence, noun
nonconfidence, noun
superconfidence, noun
Synonyms
1. faith, reliance, dependence. See trust. 2. Confidence, assurance both imply a faith in oneself. Confidence may imply trust in oneself or arrogant self-conceit. Assurance implies even more sureness of oneself; this may be shown as undisturbed calm or as offensive boastfulness.
Antonyms
1. mistrust.
British Dictionary definitions for in confidence

confidence

/ˈkɒnfɪdəns/
noun
1.
a feeling of trust in a person or thing: I have confidence in his abilities
2.
belief in one's own abilities; self-assurance
3.
trust or a trustful relationship: take me into your confidence
4.
something confided or entrusted; secret
5.
in confidence, as a secret
Word Origin and History for in confidence

confidence

n.

early 15c., from Middle French confidence or directly from Latin confidentia, from confidentem (nominative confidens) "firmly trusting, bold," present participle of confidere "to have full trust or reliance," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + fidere "to trust" (see faith). For sense of "swindle" see con (adj.).

Idioms and Phrases with in confidence

in confidence

Also, in strict confidence . Privately, on condition that what is said will not be revealed. For example, The doctor told her in confidence that her mother was terminally ill , or He told us in strict confidence that Gail was pregnant . This idiom was first recorded in 1632. Also see take into one's confidence

confidence

In addition to the idiom beginning with
confidence
also see: