1. secret, classified, strictly private. confidential\con`fi*den"tial\ , a. [cf. f. confidentiel.].
2. enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.
3. communicated in confidence; secret. "confidential messages."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.confidential adj.
4. entrusted with private information and the confidence of another; "a confidential secretary".
5. (of information) given in confidence or in secret; "closet information"; "this arrangement must be kept confidential"; "their secret communications" [syn: closet(a) , secret].
6. denoting confidence or intimacy; "a confidential approach"; "in confidential tone of voice".
7. the level of official classification for documents next above restricted and below secret; available only to persons authorized to see:
documents so classified.
8. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.
9. Communicated in confidence; secret. the level of official classification for documents next above restricted and below secret; available only to persons authorized to see:
documents so classified denoting confidence or intimacy; "a confidential approach"; "in confidential tone of voice" entrusted with private information and the confidence of another; "a confidential secretary".
10. 1. Information that is confidential is meant to be kept secret or private. She accused them of leaking confidential information about her private life We'll take good care and keep what you've told us strictly confidential, Mr. Lane. + confidentially con·fi·den·tial·ly People can phone in the knowledge that any information they give will be treated confidentially. + confidentiality con·fi·den·ti·al·ity the confidentiality of the client-solicitor relationship.
11. If you talk to someone in a confidential way, you talk to them quietly because what you are saying is secret or private. `Look,' he said in a confidential tone, `I want you to know that me and Joey are cops.' His face suddenly turned solemn, his voice confidential. + confidentially con·fi·den·tial·ly Nash hadn't raised his voice, still spoke rather softly, confidentially.