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Confidential: meaning, definitions and examples

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confidential

 

[หŒkษ’nfษชหˆdenสƒษ™l ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

information security

Intended to be kept secret or private, often because it is of a sensitive nature.

Synonyms

classified, private, secret.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
confidential

Used when referring to information that is meant to be kept secret, often in professional or formal settings such as medical records or business discussions.

  • The documents are confidential and should not be shared with anyone outside the company.
  • Please handle this matter with confidentiality.
secret

Used to describe something that is meant to be hidden from others. It can be used in casual or serious situations.

  • She told him a secret that no one else knew.
  • The location of the hidden treasure is a secret.
private

Used for information that is personal or sensitive and is not meant for public knowledge. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

  • She kept her private thoughts to herself.
  • This is a private conversation, please leave us alone.
classified

Often used in a governmental or military context to describe information that is restricted and only accessible to individuals with the proper clearance.

  • The report contains classified information about national security.
  • Only authorized personnel can access the classified files.

Examples of usage

  • The files are confidential and should not be shared with anyone outside the team.
  • Please keep this information confidential until the official announcement is made.
Context #2 | Noun

business

A confidential report or document, usually containing sensitive information.

Synonyms

classified document, private report.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
confidential

Used to describe information that is meant to be kept secret and not disclosed to unauthorized individuals.

  • The email contained confidential information about the company's new product launch.
  • Please ensure that these documents remain confidential.
classified document

Used in official and government settings to describe information that requires a specific level of clearance to access. It has a formal and often legal connotation.

  • Only personnel with proper clearance can view the classified documents.
  • They found several classified documents during the investigation.
private report

Used when referring to reports or documentation intended for specific individuals or groups, often within a company or organization, and not for public release.

  • The board received a private report detailing the financial performance of the last quarter.
  • Please review the private report before our next meeting.

Examples of usage

  • The CEO reviewed the confidential before presenting it to the board.
  • She was asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before accessing the confidential documents.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'confidentialis,' which means 'trusting.'
  • Confidential has roots in 'confidere,' meaning 'to trust' or 'have faith in' someone.
  • It became common in English during the late 15th century, originally referring to private discussions.

Law

  • Confidentiality agreements, or NDAs, are legal contracts that prevent sharing sensitive information.
  • In the medical field, patient confidentiality is crucial, protecting personal health information under laws like HIPAA.
  • Breach of confidentiality can lead to legal consequences, highlighting its importance in professional settings.

Business

  • In business, maintaining confidentiality can foster trust between clients and service providers.
  • Companies often conduct confidential internal audits to assess risks without public scrutiny.
  • Confidential communication tools are used to protect sensitive business conversations from leaks.

Psychology

  • Confidentiality is vital in therapy, allowing patients to share without fear of judgment or exposure.
  • The therapeutic alliance relies heavily on trust, which is built by ensuring confidentiality.
  • Studying the effects of confidentiality can reveal the boundary between personal and shared information.

Pop Culture

  • Movies and TV shows often feature plots centered around secret documents, government conspiracies, and the struggle to keep information confidential.
  • The phrase 'classified information' is popular in spy genres, where confidential data leads to high stakes.
  • Many celebrities use confidentiality to protect their private lives from the public eye, reinforcing the allure of intrigue.

Translations

Translations of the word "confidential" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น confidencial

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เฅ‹เคชเคจเฅ€เคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช vertraulich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ rahasia

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบะพะฝั„ั–ะดะตะฝั†ั–ะนะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ poufny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฉŸๅฏ†

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท confidentiel

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ confidencial

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท gizli

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ธฐ๋ฐ€

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฑูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dลฏvฤ›rnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ dรดvernรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆœบๅฏ†

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ zaupno

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ trรบnaรฐarmรกl

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะฟะธั

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒ˜แƒ“แƒฃแƒ›แƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ mษ™xfi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ confidencial

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,264 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.