confidence
Pluralconfidences (some meanings)
- 1A strong belief in your own abilities and judgment.
Like feeling sure you can ride a bike without falling.
She spoke with great confidence during the job interview.
Winning the first game gave the whole team confidence.
UsageYou have confidence, or you are confident. Say the confidence to do something.
Similarassurance, self-assurance, poise, self-belief, aplomb
Oppositeinsecurity, self-doubt, diffidence, timidity
- 2A strong feeling that someone or something can be trusted.
Like knowing a good friend will keep a promise.
The voters lost confidence in their leaders after the scandal.
I have full confidence in my doctor's advice.
UsageHave confidence in someone; you can lose it too.
Similartrust, faith, belief, reliance, conviction
Oppositedistrust, mistrust, doubt, skepticism
Note
- 3Trust that someone will keep a private thing you tell them and not tell other people.
Can I tell you something in confidence? Please keep it to yourself.
The counselor promised that everything I said would be kept in confidence.
UsageSay in confidence for something private: tell someone in confidence.
Similarconfidentiality
Less common meanings
- 4Secret information that someone shares with you and trusts you to keep private.
Like a secret a friend asks you to keep.
Late that night, my best friend shared a confidence about her family with me.
He never repeated the confidences his friends shared with him.
UsageYou can keep or betray a confidence.
Similarsecret
Note
- 5Bold behavior that seems too daring, rude, or sure of itself.
Similarpresumption, audacity, effrontery, impudence, brashness
Oppositemodesty, humility, deference
Note
Practice
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Origin
It comes from Latin cōnfīdentia, from cōnfīdō meaning "believe, trust in," made from con- ("with") and fīdō ("trust").
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Confidence derives from Latin cōnfīdentia, ultimately from cōnfīdō. en.wiktionary.org
- Cōnfīdō means believe or trust in. en.wiktionary.org
- Cōnfīdō combines con-, meaning with, and fīdō, meaning trust. en.wiktionary.org