confidential
meant to be kept secret
Meant to be secret and not told to many people, only to a few people who are allowed to know.
confidential [information/document/report]
- Please remember that all client data is strictly confidential.
- The company fired him for sharing confidential information with a competitor.
- These files are confidential and may only be viewed by senior management.
- The journalist refused to reveal her confidential sources.
- Lawyers must keep all communications with their clients confidential.
- This report is confidential, so do not show it to anyone.
- She told me some confidential information about the new project.
- All employee records are confidential.
- The doctor keeps your medical history confidential.
- He signed a paper to keep the deal confidential.
showing private, trusting communication
Showing or describing private talk between people who trust each other not to tell others.
a confidential [tone/relationship/meeting]
- He lowered his voice to a confidential tone as he spoke about his family problems.
- They developed a confidential relationship over the years and shared many personal worries.
- She leaned closer in a confidential manner, as if about to tell him something deeply personal.
- The counselor tried to create a warm, confidential atmosphere so the students would feel safe talking.
- We had a long, confidential conversation about our future plans.
- She spoke in a quiet, confidential voice.
- They have a very confidential relationship and tell each other many private things.
- He closed the door for a confidential meeting with his manager.
- My friend used a confidential tone when he told me his problem.
- The doctor tried to make the talk feel more confidential.
- Base: confidential
confidential documents
1documents that must be secret
Papers or digital files that contain secret information and must not be shown to most people.
- Please store all confidential documents in the locked cabinet.
- The police seized several confidential documents from the office.
- Staff must shred any confidential documents before throwing them away.
confidential information
1information that must be secret
Information that people are not allowed to share with others, usually for legal, business, or privacy reasons.
- Employees are not allowed to remove any confidential information from the office.
- Sharing confidential information about patients is a serious ethical violation.
- The contract prevents us from using their confidential information for our own products.
confidential source
1secret, unnamed information giver
A person who gives information, especially to a journalist or the police, but whose name must be kept secret.
- The reporter refused to reveal her confidential source.
- Thanks to a confidential source, the newspaper uncovered the corruption scandal.
- The police received a tip from a confidential source inside the organization.
highly confidential
1extremely secret and protected
Used to say that something is very secret and must be protected very carefully.
- Details of the merger are highly confidential at this stage.
- Access to this database is restricted because the data is highly confidential.
strictly confidential
1must not be shared with others
used to say that information is very private and must not be told to other people
- All applications will be treated as strictly confidential.
- This report is strictly confidential and for internal use only.
strictly confidential
2must be kept completely secret
Used to say that some information must be kept completely secret and should not be shared with other people.
- All applications will be treated as strictly confidential.
- This memo is strictly confidential and must not be copied or emailed outside the team.
- The list of bidders is strictly confidential until the contract is awarded.