CONFIDENTIAL

confidential

(adjective) the level of official classification for documents next above restricted and below secret; available only to persons authorized to see documents so classified

confidential

(adjective) denoting confidence or intimacy; “a confidential approach”; “in confidential tone of voice”

confidential, secret

(adjective) (of information) given in confidence or in secret; “this arrangement must be kept confidential”; “their secret communications”

confidential

(adjective) entrusted with private information and the confidence of another; “a confidential secretary”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

confidential (comparative more confidential, superlative most confidential)

Kept, or meant to be kept, secret within a certain circle of persons; not intended to be known publicly

Synonyms: private, classified, off the record, privileged, secret, dern (obsolete)

Antonyms: public, on the record

(dated) Inclined to share confidences; (of things) making people inclined to share confidences; involving the sharing of confidences.

(dated) Having someone's confidence or trust; having a position requiring trust; worthy of being trusted with confidences.

Source: Wiktionary

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Con`fi*den"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confidentiel.]

1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.

2. Communicated in confidence; secret. "Confidential messages." Burke. Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication, under Privileged.

– Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors.

– Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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