confidential
/ˌkɔn.fɪˈdɛn.ʃəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.90 in modern English
18
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Kept, or meant to be kept, secret within a certain circle of persons; not intended to be known publicly.
adj
Inclined to share confidences; (of things) making people inclined to share confidences; involving the sharing of confidences.
Dated
Example Sentences
- "The newspaper claims a leaked confidential report by the government admits to problems with corrupt MPs."
- "[…]I have a communication of a very private—indeed, I will say, of a sacredly confidential nature, which I desire to make to you."
- "It would tell against your reputation, losing a confidential document, wouldn’t it? Why didn’t you keep it confidential if it was confidential?"
- "“One of the things that I think parents would tell you, and that students and victims and patients would tell you, is that we have a legal responsibility, but I think more importantly a moral responsibility, to hold their information confidential and private,” Blanton said."
- "Sitting in front of the fire, they became quite confidential, and began to gossip."
- "Long, long would it be ere Miss Crawford′s name passed his lips again, or she could hope for a renewal of such confidential intercourse as had been."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
- Root: *bʰeydʰ-
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌkɔn.fɪˈdɛn.ʃəl/
- British English: /ˌkɒn.fɪˈdɛn.ʃəl/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more confidential (comparative)
most confidential (superlative)