1
: full of conviction : certain
confident that conditions will improve
2
: having or showing assurance and self-reliance
a confident young businessman
Did you know?
If you find yourself unsure whether you should choose confident or confidant don’t feel bad; confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant. The difference is quite simple: confidant is a noun (meaning «a person in whom you confide things»), and confident is an adjective (defined as “having confidence”). You may well be confident in your confidant, but you would not be confidant in your confident.
Although this distinction has not always been observed by writers, confidante is generally used for a female confidant. The word confidant is more frequently used to describe a man, but it may be applied to either gender.
Synonyms
Example Sentences
I am confident about my ability to do the job.
The players seem more relaxed and confident this season.
He has become more confident in his Spanish-speaking skills.
They have a confident air about them.
We are confident that conditions will improve soon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lanz said he’s been overwhelmed at times but feels confident in his ability to stay calm and level-headed moving forward.
—
Charles Baggarly, Dallas News, 29 Mar. 2023
Chloe Bailey may appear ultra-confident on stage, but that’s not always the case behind the scenes.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2023
Some union leaders are confident members will come together in time.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 29 Mar. 2023
In Brazil, Cherkasov was confident the 15-year sentence would not stick.
—Greg Miller, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Mar. 2023
In Brazil, Cherkasov was confident the 15-year sentence would not stick.
—Greg Miller, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023
Jackson preferred not to share specifics but is confident Richardson will rise to the occasion.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2023
And after slaying the dragon in last year’s NLDS, San Diego is more confident than ever.
—Tanner Mcgrath, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2023
Mentorships can help employees feel more confident in their roles, giving them a stronger sense of purpose within the organization.
—Kara Dennison, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘confident.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin confīdent-, confīdens «trusting in oneself, assured, presumptuous,» from present participle of confīdere «to put trust in, have confidence in, be sure» — more at confide
First Known Use
circa 1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of confident was
circa 1567
Dictionary Entries Near confident
Cite this Entry
“Confident.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confident. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
2 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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- Confident Vs. Confidant Vs. Confidante
- When To Use
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ kon-fi-duhnt ]
/ ˈkɒn fɪ dənt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
having strong belief or full assurance; sure: confident of fulfillment.
sure of oneself; having no uncertainty about one’s own abilities, correctness, successfulness, etc.; self-confident; bold: a confident speaker.
noun
QUIZ
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Origin of confident
First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin confīdent- (stem of confīdēns), present participle of confīdere.See confide, -ent
OTHER WORDS FROM confident
con·fi·dent·ly, adverbhy·per·con·fi·dent, adjectivehy·per·con·fi·dent·ly, adverbnon·con·fi·dent, adjective
non·con·fi·dent·ly, adverbqua·si-con·fi·dent, adjectivequa·si-con·fi·dent·ly, adverbsu·per·con·fi·dent, adjectivesu·per·con·fi·dent·ly, adverbul·tra·con·fi·dent, adjectiveun·con·fi·dent, adjectiveun·con·fi·dent·ly, adverb
Words nearby confident
confidence interval, confidence level, confidence limits, confidence man, confidence trick, confident, confidente, confidential, confidential communication, confidential informant, confiding
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
CONFIDENT VS. CONFIDANT VS. CONFIDANTE
What’s the difference between confident, confidant, and confidante?
Confident is an adjective that means sure of oneself or one’s abilities, or having a high level of certainty about something. Confidant is a noun meaning someone you feel comfortable telling secret or private things to—a person you confide in. The word confidante is a gender-specific form of confidant that’s applied to women.
Very rarely, the word confident can be used as a noun meaning the same thing as confidant, but we’re pretty confident almost no one uses it this way. We’re also sorry to report that there’s a kind of sofa called a confidente that can also be called a confidante, but honestly you’ll be better off if you just forget we ever said anything about it.
Confidant and confidante are borrowed from French, which has grammatical gender, so some words end differently depending on whether they are applied to men or women (with e being the feminine ending). This happens in a few other pairs of words in English, like blond and blonde, though in many cases the term without the e has become largely gender-neutral. This is the case with confidant, which is the more commonly used of the two.
What’s the best way to be confident that you’re using the right word? Just remember that the ending of both confidant and confidante sounds like the more formal pronunciation of aunt—your aunt could be your confidant (as could your commandant, the ending of which also sounds the same).
The ending of confident, on the other hand, sounds like dent.
Here’s an example of confident and confidant used correctly in the same sentence. (The word confidant could be replaced with confidante if you were referring to a woman and wanted to make the term gender-specific.)
Example: I am confident that what I confide to my confidant stays confidential.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between confident, confidant, and confidante.
Quiz yourself on confident vs. confidant vs. confidante!
Should confident, confidant, or confidante be used in the following sentence?
She felt _____ that her entry would win the contest.
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say confident?
The adjective confident means “having strong belief or full assurance.” How does confident compare to synonyms certain, sure, and positive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Words related to confident
assured, convinced, positive, sure, upbeat, bold, daring, cocky, self-assured, self-confident, hopeful, sanguine, optimistic, self-reliant, counting on, expectant, secure, cocksure, dauntless, intrepid
How to use confident in a sentence
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People put their money in a bank only because they are very confident that they can get it back if needed.
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Whether you’re a novice looking to buff up redeye-making skills or confident making a macchiato, most machines will be able to meet you where you are.
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When the testing was over, many recruits said they had been confident they heard a true difference between sick and healthy coughs and sneezes.
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The customer made it clear that if we couldn’t develop this capability they’d be less confident in our product.
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By the time we had enough years of data to actually test the hypotheses and put out studies that we’re really confident in, there was a really established “Ban the Box” lobby.
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Farenthold denies all the allegations and is confident that he will “be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
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Somebody else suggests that the evidence is precarious, coming as it does from victims who might not make confident witnesses.
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Yet Lohse is confident that the reader will take his actions as the fruits of selfless moral courage.
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The friendly aura vanished, her eyes dead, voice robotic and confident she was correct.
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They were confident that there would be more votes for it next year.
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Things looked anxious for a bit, but by this morning’s dawn all are dug in, cool, confident.
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Very trim and strong, and confident he looked, with the glow of youth in his cheeks, and the spark of happiness in his gray eyes.
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Each day he was sending serenely confident telegrams to Calcutta and receiving equally reassuring ones from a fatuous Viceroy.
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So did my versatile friend, joyously confident in his powers, start on his glorious career as a private detective.
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But her sympathy, and her confident belief that Alessandro might yet be found, gave unspeakable cheer to Felipe.
British Dictionary definitions for confident
adjective
(postpositive foll by of) having or showing confidence or certainty; sureconfident of success
sure of oneself; bold
presumptuous; excessively bold
Derived forms of confident
confidently, adverb
Word Origin for confident
C16: from Latin confīdens trusting, having self-confidence, from confīdere to have complete trust in; see confide
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
confident
having strong belief; sure; certain; self-assured
Not to be confused with:
confidant – a friend to whom secrets are confided (fem. confidante)
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
con·fi·dent
(kŏn′fĭ-dənt)
adj.
1. Feeling or showing certainty, as of success: was confident that the venture would be profitable.
2. Feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured: a confident driver. See Synonyms at sure.
3. Obsolete Confiding; trustful.
[Latin cōnfīdēns, cōnfīdent-, present participle of cōnfīdere, to rely on; see confide.]
con′fi·dent·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
confident
(ˈkɒnfɪdənt)
adj
1. (foll by: of) having or showing confidence or certainty; sure: confident of success.
2. sure of oneself; bold
3. presumptuous; excessively bold
[C16: from Latin confīdens trusting, having self-confidence, from confīdere to have complete trust in; see confide]
ˈconfidently adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
con•fi•dent
(ˈkɒn fɪ dənt)
adj.
1. having strong belief or full assurance; sure: confident of success.
2. sure of oneself and one’s abilities, correctness, or likelihood of success; self-confident; assured.
3. excessively bold.
4. Obs. trustful.
[1570–80; < Latin confīdent-, s. of confīdēns, present participle of confīdere]
con′fi•dent•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
confidant
– confident
1. ‘confidant’
Confidant /’kɒnfɪdænt/ is a noun. A confidant is a person who you discuss your private problems and worries with. You use the spelling confidante when the person is a woman.
…Colonel House, a friend and confidant of President Woodrow Wilson.
She became her father’s only confidante.
2. ‘confident’
Confident /’kɒnfɪdənt/ is an adjective. If you are confident about something, you are certain that it will happen in the way you want.
He was confident that the problem with the guidance mechanism could be fixed.
I feel confident about the future of British music.
People who are confident are sure of their own abilities.
… a witty, young and confident lawyer.
His manner is more confident these days.
self-conscious
– confident
1. ‘self-conscious’
Someone who is self-conscious is easily embarrassed and worries about what other people think of them.
I stood there, feeling self-conscious.
Patrick is self-conscious about his thinness.
2. ‘confident’
If someone is sure of their own abilities, qualities, or ideas, you do not say that they are ‘self-conscious’. You say that they are confident, self-confident, or self-assured.
…a witty, young and confident lawyer.
She was remarkably self-confident for her age.
His comments were firm and self-assured.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Adj. | 1. | confident — having or marked by confidence or assurance; «a confident speaker»; «a confident reply»; «his manner is more confident these days»; «confident of fulfillment»
shy, unsure, diffident, timid — lacking self-confidence; «stood in the doorway diffident and abashed»; «problems that call for bold not timid responses»; «a very unsure young man» |
| 2. | confident — persuaded of; very sure; «were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join»; «I am positive he is lying»; «was confident he would win»
sure, certain — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured; «felt certain of success»; «was sure (or certain) she had seen it»; «was very sure in his beliefs»; «sure of her friends» |
|
| 3. | confident — not liable to error in judgment or action; «most surefooted of the statesmen who dealt with the depression»- Walter Lippman; «demonstrates a surefooted storytelling talent»- Michiko Kakutani
capable — (usually followed by `of’) having capacity or ability; «capable of winning»; «capable of hard work»; «capable of walking on two feet» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
confident
adjective
1. certain, sure, convinced, positive, secure, satisfied, counting on I am confident that everything will come out right in time.
certain not sure, uncertain, doubtful, dubious, unsure, unconvinced
2. self-assured, positive, assured, bold, self-confident, self-reliant, self-possessed, sure of yourself, can-do (informal) In time he became more confident and relaxed.
self-assured shy, afraid, scared, nervous, unsure, tentative, insecure, hesitant, self-doubting, jittery, lacking confidence, mousy
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
confident
adjective
2. Having a firm belief in one’s own powers:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
jistýpřesvědčený
selvsikker
luottavainen
uvjeren
öruggur
確信して
확신하는
prepričan
självsäker
มั่นใจ
tự tin
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
confident
[ˈkɒnfɪdənt] adj
(= self-assured) [person] → sûr(e) de soi, assuré(e); [manner] → assuré(e)
She seems quite confident → Elle a l’air sûre d’elle.
(= certain) → sûr(e)
to be confident (that) … → être sûr(e) que …
I’m confident everything will be okay → Je suis sûr que tout ira bien.
to be confident of sth → être sûr(e) de qch
to be confident about sth → avoir confiance en qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
confident
adj
(= self-assured) → (selbst)sicher; to be in a confident mood → sich seiner sicher fühlen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
confident
[ˈkɒnfɪd/ənt] adj → sicuro/a, fiducioso/a (also self-confident) → sicuro/a (di sé)
to be confident of doing sth/that → essere sicuro di fare qc/che
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
confide
(kənˈfaid) verb
to tell one’s private thoughts to someone. He confided in his brother; He confided his fears to his brother.
confidence (ˈkonfidəns) noun
1. trust or belief in someone’s ability. I have great confidence in you.
2. belief and faith in one’s own ability. She shows a great deal of confidence for her age.
confident (ˈkonfidənt) adjective
having a great deal of trust (especially in oneself). She is confident that she will win; a confident boy.
confidential (konfiˈdenʃəl) adjective
1. secret; not to be told to others. confidential information.
2. trusted to keep secrets. a confidential secretary.
confidentiality (ˈkonfidenʃiˈӕləti) nounˌconfiˈdentially adverb
secretly; not wishing to have the information passed on to anyone else. She could not tell me what he said – he was speaking confidentially.
conˈfiding adjective
trustful.
conˈfidingly adverbin confidence
as a secret; confidentially. He told me the story in (strictest) confidence.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
confident
→ واثِق jistý selvsikker selbstsicher σίγουρος seguro, seguro de sí mismo luottavainen sûr de soi uvjeren fiducioso 確信して 확신하는 overtuigd trygg pewny confiante уверенный självsäker มั่นใจ kendine güvenen tự tin 确信的
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
If you’re confident you are sure about something, someone, or yourself. He was confident he could keep his balance and cross the river on the skinny log, but he wasn’t so confident that the log was strong enough to hold him.
Confident is often a word of assurance. Someone may ask, «Are you sure that’s the right way to do it?» and then, just to be assured, they might say, «So, you’re confident that’s the right wire to cut so the bomb doesn’t blow?» Being really sure of something or being sure of yourself is being confident. «He held his head high, but not in an arrogant or show-off way; he was just confident about who he was. He liked himself.»
Definitions of confident
-
adjective
having or marked by confidence or assurance
“a
confident speaker”“a
confident reply”“his manner is more
confident these days”“confident of fulfillment”
-
Synonyms:
-
assured
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
-
cocksure, overconfident, positive
marked by excessive confidence
-
reassured
having confidence restored; freed from anxiety
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self-assured, self-confident
showing poise and confidence in your own worth
-
assured
-
adjective
not liable to error in judgment or action
-
synonyms:
sure-footed, surefooted
-
capable
(usually followed by `of’) having capacity or ability
-
capable
-
adjective
persuaded of; very sure
“was
confident he would win”-
synonyms:
convinced, positive
-
certain, sure
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
-
certain, sure
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘confident’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Commonly confused words
confident / confidant(e)
Confident is how you feel on a good hair day, but a confidant is the person you tell when you’re secretly wearing a wig. It’s no wonder that these words are so easily confused: they were once both confident.
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Britannica Dictionary definition of CONFIDENT
[more confident; most confident]
1
a
:
having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something
:
having confidence
-
The class made me more confident (about myself).
-
a confident young businesswoman
-
I am confident about my ability to do the job.
-
The players seem more relaxed and confident this season.
-
He has become more confident in his Spanish-speaking skills.
—
see also overconfident, self-confident
b
:
showing that you have confidence
-
a confident smile
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They have a confident air about them.
-
His voice sounded confident.
2
not used before a noun
:
certain that something will happen or that something is true
-
We are confident that conditions will improve soon.
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He seemed confident of success. [=sure that he would succeed]
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“I know the answer,” she said confidently.
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We can confidently state that the product is safe.