confidentiality
gb/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/ us/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
C1
English
bizalmasság, titoktartás, titoktartási kötelezettség
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
bizalmasság
C1
Usage pattern:
confidentiality of [information/data/records]
The company promises to protect the confidentiality of customer data.
A vállalat megígéri, hogy megvédi az ügyféladatok bizalmasságát.
All survey responses will be treated with strict confidentiality.
A kérdőívre adott összes választ szigorúan bizalmasan fogjuk kezelni.
The system uses encryption to preserve the confidentiality of medical records.
Learner examples
We must protect the confidentiality of this information.
Meg kell védenünk ennek az információnak a bizalmasságát.
The report was handled with confidentiality.
A jelentést bizalmasan kezelték.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse confidentiality with confidence. Confidentiality is about privacy; confidence is usually about trust or self-belief.
Meaning
private handling of information
Collocations
strict confidentiality
|complete confidentiality
|absolute confidentiality
|protect confidentiality
|maintain confidentiality
|ensure confidentiality
|guarantee confidentiality
|respect confidentiality
|confidentiality of data
|confidentiality of records
Synonyms
privacy (broader and more everyday; can refer to people, spaces, or information)
|
secrecy (stronger emphasis on hiding information, sometimes with a negative tone)
|
discretion (emphasizes careful judgment about what not to say)
Antonyms
disclosure (the act of making private information known)
|
publicity (the state of being public rather than private)
|
openness (a general willingness to share information openly)
Themes
privacy
|communication
|business
|healthcare
|law
Definition
Confidentiality means keeping private information secret and sharing it only with people who are allowed to know it.
the state or quality of information being kept private and not shared without permission
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
confidentiality between [professional] and [client/patient]; [someone] is bound by confidentiality
Therapists are required to maintain confidentiality unless someone is at risk of serious harm.
A terapeutáknak titoktartási kötelezettségük van, kivéve, ha valakit súlyos veszély fenyeget.
The lawyer explained the limits of confidentiality before the meeting began.
Az ügyvéd a megbeszélés kezdete előtt elmagyarázta a titoktartás határait.
Employees who handle personal records are bound by confidentiality.
Learner examples
Doctors must respect patient confidentiality.
Az orvosoknak tiszteletben kell tartaniuk a betegtitkot.
The lawyer promised confidentiality.
Az ügyvéd megígérte, hogy titokban tartja az elhangzottakat.
Common mistake:
Confidentiality is usually uncountable: say “confidentiality is important,” not “a confidentiality is important.”
Meaning
duty to keep secrets
Collocations
duty of confidentiality
|obligation of confidentiality
|client confidentiality
|patient confidentiality
|medical confidentiality
|legal confidentiality
|uphold confidentiality
|violate confidentiality
|waive confidentiality
|bound by confidentiality
Synonyms
professional secrecy (more technical or legal-sounding, especially in professional contexts)
|
nondisclosure (emphasizes the requirement not to reveal information)
|
privilege (narrower legal term for protected communications, such as lawyer-client communications)
Antonyms
breach of confidentiality (a violation of the duty to keep information private)
|
disclosure (revealing information that may have been protected)
|
transparency (openness that may contrast with confidentiality in organizations or government)
Themes
law
|healthcare
|business
|ethics
|privacy
Definition
Confidentiality is the rule that a professional must not tell other people private information about someone they work with or care for.
a professional, legal, or ethical duty not to reveal private information about a client, patient, employee, or other person
Grammar
Dictionary form
confidentiality
IPA
GB/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
US/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
Syllables & stress
con - fid - en - ti - al - ity (6 syllables)
Stress on 5th syllable (al)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: confidentiality
- Plural: confidentialities, confidentiality
Expressions
breach of confidentiality
1/bɹˈit͡ʃ əv kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
formal
breaking a privacy duty
A breach of confidentiality happens when someone shares private information that they were supposed to keep secret.
Examples
- Sharing the patient’s name with the media was a serious breach of confidentiality.
- The employee was dismissed after a breach of confidentiality involving salary records.
- The email may constitute a breach of confidentiality if it contains client details.
Learner examples
- That was a breach of confidentiality.
- The company investigated the breach of confidentiality.
client confidentiality
1/klˈaɪənt kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
business
privacy for client information
Client confidentiality means keeping a client’s information private.
Examples
- The consultant refused to name the company because of client confidentiality.
- Law firms take client confidentiality extremely seriously.
- We cannot publish the details without violating client confidentiality.
Learner examples
- We must protect client confidentiality.
- Client confidentiality is important in this job.
confidentiality agreement
1/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
legal
contract to keep secrets
A confidentiality agreement is a document you sign promising not to share certain private information.
Examples
- All contractors must sign a confidentiality agreement before they can access the files.
- The settlement terms are covered by a confidentiality agreement.
- She could not discuss the project because she was under a confidentiality agreement.
Learner examples
- I signed a confidentiality agreement.
- The agreement says we cannot share the data.
confidentiality clause
1/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
Contract term to keep information private
A rule in a contract that says you must not share certain information.
Examples
- The confidentiality clause prevents employees from revealing company secrets.
- She signed the confidentiality clause before starting the job.
confidentiality clause
1/kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
legal
contract privacy section
A confidentiality clause is the part of a contract that says what information must be kept secret.
Examples
- The contract includes a confidentiality clause covering customer lists and pricing data.
- Because of the confidentiality clause, the parties cannot reveal the terms of the deal.
- Their lawyers negotiated a stricter confidentiality clause.
Learner examples
- The contract has a confidentiality clause.
- The clause protects company secrets.
doctor-patient confidentiality
1/dˈɑktɚ pˈeɪʃənt kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
formal
privacy between doctor and patient
Doctor-patient confidentiality means a doctor must not share a patient’s private information except in special situations allowed by law.
Examples
- Doctor-patient confidentiality encourages people to speak honestly about their health.
- The records were protected by doctor-patient confidentiality.
- There are limited exceptions to doctor-patient confidentiality, such as when someone is in immediate danger.
Learner examples
- Doctor-patient confidentiality protects my medical information.
- The doctor explained confidentiality to the patient.
maintain confidentiality
1/meɪntˈeɪn kˌɑnfədˌɛnʃiˈæləti/
fixed phrase
formal
keep information private
To maintain confidentiality is to keep private information secret.
Examples
- All staff are trained to maintain confidentiality when handling personal data.
- Please maintain confidentiality about the interview process until we announce the decision.
- The clinic has procedures to maintain the confidentiality of patient records.
Learner examples
- Please maintain confidentiality.
- We must maintain confidentiality at work.