1. secret; trust; faith in oneself; certainty. confidence\con"fi*dence\ , n. [l. confidentia firm trust in, self-confidence: cf. f. confidence.].
2. the act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. a cheerful confidence in the mercy of god.
3. that in which faith is put or reliance had. the lord shall be thy confidence. iii.
4. 3. the state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. your wisdom is consumed in confidence; do not go forth to-day. but confidence then bore thee on secure either to meet no danger, or to find matter of glorious trial.
5. private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. sir, i desire some confidence with you.confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler.confidence man, a swindler.
6. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; formerly followed by of, now commonly by in.
7. That in which faith is put or reliance had.
8. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; often with self prefixed.
9. Private conversation; secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them.
10. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.
11. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.
12. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.
13. Giving occasion for confidence. a secret that is confided or entrusted to another; "everyone trusted him with their confidences"; "the priest could not reveal her confidences" a feeling of trust ; "I have confidence in our team"; "confidence is always borrowed, never owned" a trustful relationship; "he took me into his confidence"; "he betrayed their trust" a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable; "public confidence in the economy".
14. 1. If you have confidence in someone, you feel that you can trust them. I have every confidence in you This has contributed to the lack of confidence in the police His record on ceasefires inspires no confidence. = faith.
15. If you have confidence, you feel sure about your abilities, qualities, or ideas. The band is on excellent form and brimming with confidence I always thought the worst of myself and had no confidence whatsoever.
16. If you can say something with confidence, you feel certain it is correct. I can say with confidence that such rumors were totally groundless.
17. If you tell someone something in confidence, you tell them a secret. We told you all these things in confidence Even telling Lois seemed a betrayal of confidence. If you take someone into your confidence, you tell them a secret. If your daughter takes you into her confidence, don't rush off to tell your husband. see also:
vote of no confidence.