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Meaning of confidence in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkɑnfədəns/

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  1. Noun

    confidence

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin confidentia, from confidere‘have full trust’ (see confident)

    Definitions

    1. freedom from doubt

    Examples

    • « belief in yourself and your abilities »
    • « his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular »
    • « after that failure he lost his confidence »
    • « she spoke with authority »
  2. 2. a feeling of trust (in someone or something)

    Examples

    • « I have confidence in our team »
    • « confidence is always borrowed, never owned »

    Antonyms

    • diffidence
    • self-doubt
    • self-distrust
  3. 3. a state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable

    Examples

    • « public confidence in the economy »
  4. 4. a trustful relationship

    Examples

    • « he took me into his confidence »
    • « he betrayed their trust »

    Derived terms

    • commit
    • confide
    • entrust
    • intrust
    • trust
  5. 5. a secret that is confided or entrusted to another

    Examples

    • « everyone trusted him with their confidences »
    • « the priest could not reveal her confidences »

    Derived terms

    • confide

Famous quotes

  • « The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you. »
    William Jennings Bryan
  • « I liked sports but I never really had the confidence. I was always coordinated and it came easy to me, but I didn't have the confidence to go along with the physical skill. »
    Bradley Cooper
  • « The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness. »
    Oscar de la Renta
  • « Even when I'm playing someone named Fat Amy, I'm all about confidence and attitude. »
    Rebel Wilson
  • « Wealth brings strength, strength confidence. »
    John Lothrop Motley

Browse dictionary

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