confidence
C1Formal, Neutral, Informal
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities; belief in oneself.
1. The feeling or belief that someone or something can be relied upon. 2. Trust placed in another by sharing private information.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a positive polarity. It describes an internal psychological state but can also refer to an external quality ascribed to things (e.g., 'market confidence'). The meaning related to private information (e.g., 'in confidence') is semantically distinct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling 'confidence' is consistent.
Connotations
Largely identical, though in British English, 'confidence trick' (or 'con trick') is the standard term, while American English uses 'confidence game' or 'con game'.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have confidence in [someone/something]gain/lose confidencedo something with confidencein [strict] confidenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take someone into your confidence”
- “a vote of no confidence”
- “confidence trick/game”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to economic or market sentiment (e.g., 'consumer confidence index').
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and economics to describe a measurable trait or indicator.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe one's own feelings or to encourage others (e.g., 'You should have more confidence!').
Technical
In statistics, refers to a confidence interval; in cybersecurity, refers to levels of trust in a system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager confided her concerns to the team in strict confidence.
- He was not the sort of man one could easily confide in.
American English
- She confided her secret to her best friend.
- Can I confide something in you?
adverb
British English
- He nodded confidentially, indicating he understood the sensitive nature of the topic.
- She spoke quietly but confidentially.
American English
- He leaned over and said, confidentially, 'I think she's going to resign.'
adjective
British English
- He gave her a confidential wink.
- This meeting and its minutes are strictly confidential.
American English
- She spoke in a confidential tone.
- The documents are marked 'confidential'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has confidence when she sings.
- The teacher gave me confidence.
- He gained confidence after passing his driving test.
- I don't have much confidence in this old computer.
- The CEO's speech restored investor confidence in the company.
- She told me about her plans in strict confidence.
- His unshakeable confidence in his own judgement sometimes bordered on arrogance.
- The 95% confidence interval for the results was calculated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONFident DANCE. When you have CONFIDENCE, you can dance through life's challenges with self-assurance.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFIDENCE IS A SOLID FOUNDATION ('His confidence was shaken'), CONFIDENCE IS A CONTAINER ('She was full of confidence'), CONFIDENCE IS A FLUID ('His confidence drained away').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating Russian 'уверенность' as 'sureness' or 'certainty'. 'Confidence' is the primary equivalent.
- The phrase 'in confidence' (as a secret) has no direct one-word equivalent in Russian and must be explained contextually.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'confidence' with 'confident' (adjective). 'I have a confident' (incorrect) vs. 'I have confidence' or 'I am confident' (correct).
- Using 'confidence' as a countable noun incorrectly: 'She has many confidences' (incorrect for self-assurance). It is uncountable in that sense.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to tell someone a secret'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily uncountable when referring to self-assurance (e.g., 'She has a lot of confidence'). It can be countable only in the sense of a secret (e.g., 'She shared several confidences with me').
Confidence is a positive, realistic belief in one's abilities. Arrogance is an exaggerated sense of one's importance or abilities, often with a lack of respect for others.
No, 'confidence' is a noun. The related verb is 'to confide' (to tell someone a secret), and the adjective is 'confident' (self-assured).
It originally refers to a formal vote showing support for a leader or government. In everyday use, it means any action that shows strong support or trust in someone or something.
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Psychology Basics
B2 · 50 words · Fundamental concepts in human psychology.