confidence

confidence — noun

1. a feeling of being sure about how well you can do something, or the belief that

1.nounB1
Definition

a feeling of being sure about how well you can do something, or the belief that someone or something will succeed as planned

Example

Aoi's confidence in her public speaking skills grew after every presentation at work.

confidence + in + noun phrase

The sales team has full confidence that this year's targets will be met.

have confidence + that-clause

Common collocations
  • have confidence in
  • lack confidence
  • full confidence
  • great confidence
  • confidence grows
  • rebuild confidence
Synonyms
  • self-assurance

    stronger, more formal, emphasises inner calm

  • faith

    stronger, can imply belief without evidence

  • trust

    focuses on reliance on others rather than on oneself

  • belief

    more general, less emotional than confidence

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

confidence + in + noun/pronoun

have confidence + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'in' (confidence in someone/something) or a that-clause (confidence that...). Contrast with sense 4: this sense is about belief and certainty, whereas sense 4 is about the relationship of trust that allows sharing secrets.

Common Mistakes

I have confident in my team.
I have confidence in my team.
'confidence' is a noun; 'confident' is an adjective.

2. a piece of private or personal information that someone tells you, trusting that

2.nounC1
Definition

a piece of private or personal information that someone tells you, trusting that you will not repeat it to others

Example

Over coffee, Emre and Folake exchanged confidences about their families and childhoods.

exchange confidences

Manuela never repeats a confidence that a friend has shared with her in private.

Common collocations
  • share confidences
  • exchange confidences
  • a confidence shared
Synonyms
  • secret

    more general, does not imply trust or intimacy

  • private matter

    more formal, emphasises the personal nature

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

share confidences with

exchange confidences

Usage Note

Unlike sense 1, this sense is countable ('a confidence' / 'confidences') and refers to the actual secret information shared. The phrase 'in confidence' (sense 3) describes the manner of sharing rather than the secret itself.

Common Mistakes

She told me a confidence about her past.' (correct, but informal)
She shared a confidence about her past.
'tell a confidence' is less natural; 'share a confidence' or 'exchange confidences' are more idiomatic.

3. a situation in which information is given to someone with the clear understandin

3.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which information is given to someone with the clear understanding that it will not be passed on to anyone else

Example

Kabir told his manager about the job offer in confidence, asking her not to mention it to the team.

tell someone something in confidence

The lawyer keeps all client communications in strict confidence under professional rules.

in strict confidence

Common collocations
  • in confidence
  • in strict confidence
  • a matter of confidence
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

tell someone something in confidence

in strict confidence

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the fixed prepositional phrase 'in confidence' (or 'in strict confidence'). The noun does not take an article here. Do not confuse with sense 2 — 'in confidence' is an adverbial phrase describing how something is said, not the secret itself.

Common Mistakes

I'm telling you this with confidence.
I'm telling you this in confidence.
'with confidence' means doing something boldly; 'in confidence' means sharing a secret.

4. the state of having a close, trusting relationship in which people share persona

4.nounC1
Definition

the state of having a close, trusting relationship in which people share personal thoughts and secrets, believing the other person will keep them private

Example

After months of working side by side, Gabriela took Aoi into her confidence and told her about the family struggles.

take someone into one's confidence

Aaron was never the type to take a colleague into his confidence, preferring to keep his problems to himself.

Common collocations
  • take someone into your confidence
  • deep confidence
Synonyms
  • trust

    simpler, more general term for reliance on someone

  • intimacy

    stronger, emphasises emotional closeness

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

take someone into one's confidence

Usage Note

Primarily appears in the idiomatic phrase 'take someone into your confidence' (to begin trusting someone with personal secrets). Unlike sense 1, this sense is about trust in a relationship rather than belief in abilities. Unlike sense 2, it describes the relationship or state, not the secret itself.

Common Mistakes

She took me in confidence.
She took me into her confidence.
The correct phrase uses 'into her' (possessive + confidence), not 'in confidence' which is a different phrase.
Idioms

be in somebody’s confidence

idiom

To be someone who is told private or secret information by another person.

Only a few close advisors are in the director's confidence.

Was Maya in your confidence when you planned the surprise party?

take somebody into your confidence

idiom

To share personal or secret information with someone because you trust them.

Diego took his sister into his confidence about the job offer.

Why did you take a stranger into your confidence so quickly?

confidence — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to a positive expectation about someone or something, but they differ in scope and intensity. 'Confidence' is the most balanced term — it implies a reasoned certainty based on experience or evidence ('I have confidence in the team because they have trained hard'). 'Self-assurance' is narrower, referring specifically to inner calm and poise under pressure; it is more formal and less common in everyday speech. 'Faith' is stronger and can exist without evidence, often in religious or deeply personal contexts ('She has faith that things will work out'). 'Trust' focuses on reliance on another person's character or reliability ('I trust my doctor's advice'), while 'belief' is the most general, covering everything from casual opinions to firm convictions. Example: You can have confidence in a plan you designed yourself, but you have trust in a friend who carries it out.

self-assurance ↗faith ↗trust ↗belief ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • full confidence
  • absolute confidence
  • complete confidence
  • quiet confidence

Phrases

  • lack of confidence
  • gain confidence
  • lose confidence
  • inspire confidence
  • show confidence
  • breed confidence

Prepositions

  • confidence in
  • confidence about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Confidence' entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'confidence', which came from Latin 'confidentia' — meaning firm trust or boldness. The Latin word combines 'com-' (together, completely) and 'fidere' (to trust), from the same root as 'fidelity' and 'faith'. The original sense was simply 'full trust'. By the 16th century it had also come to mean 'self-assurance'. The adjective meaning 'related to swindling' appeared in the 19th century, from expressions like 'confidence trick' where the criminal first builds the victim's trust — a dark twist on the original meaning.