Confidential
/ˌkɒn.fɪˈden.ʃəl/noun
Intended to be kept secret or private.
Did you know?Its core comes from Latin *confīdere*, meaning “to trust fully,” so the word originally had more to do with faith and reliance than secrecy itself.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
confīdere
“to trust fully; put complete faith in”
Late Latin
Latin
confidentia
“firm trust, assurance, confidence”
Middle French
French
confidentiel
“private, entrusted, meant to be kept within trust”
16th Century
English
confidential
“entrusted with private matters; secret”
Modern English
English
confidential
“intended to be kept private or not disclosed”