self-confidence
B2Neutral to formal; common in everyday, academic, and professional contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A realistic trust in one's own abilities, judgment, and power; a feeling of certainty in oneself.
Can refer to the conscious projection of such an attitude in social or professional situations, even if not entirely felt internally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a stable, positive self-assessment. Contrasts with arrogance (excessive, unwarranted) and self-esteem (broader sense of self-worth). Often associated with competence and calmness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Hyphenation is standard in both variants.
Connotations
Equally positive in both cultures.
Frequency
High and comparable frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + self-confidence: have, display, show, lack, lose, gain, build, boost, undermine, shatter[adjective] + self-confidence: growing, quiet, innerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Fake it till you make it (a strategy to project self-confidence).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Critical for leadership roles, presentations, and negotiations. E.g., 'The role requires the self-confidence to make difficult decisions.'
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and education literature regarding personal development.
Everyday
Commonly discussed in contexts of interviews, social situations, and personal growth.
Technical
Not a technical term, but used in psychotherapy and coaching.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She self-confidently addressed the committee.
American English
- He self-confidently pitched his idea to the investors.
adverb
British English
- He spoke self-confidently about the project's timeline.
American English
- She walked self-confidently into the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children need self-confidence to try new things.
- He has good self-confidence.
- Her self-confidence grew after she passed her driving test.
- Public speaking can help you build self-confidence.
- Despite his initial nerves, he projected an air of complete self-confidence during the interview.
- A series of failures severely undermined her self-confidence.
- His quiet self-confidence, born of years of experience, reassured the entire team.
- The critique was intended to be constructive but instead shattered her artistic self-confidence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SELF-CONFIDENCE: SURE of my own abilities, EAGER to face challenges, LEARNING from setbacks, FEELING capable inside.
Conceptual Metaphor
SELF-CONFIDENCE IS A SOLID FOUNDATION / A SHIELD / A FUEL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as 'самоуверенность', which has a negative connotation of arrogance. Use 'уверенность в себе'.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling as one word ('selfconfidence') or two separate words ('self confidence'). The correct form is hyphenated.
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'He has a great self-confidence'). It is uncountable.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of self-confidence?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Self-confidence is trust in your abilities in specific areas (e.g., social skills, job performance). Self-esteem is a broader, more general sense of overall self-worth and value as a person.
Yes. Self-confidence can be situation-specific and can be undermined by repeated failures, harsh criticism, or traumatic events. It can also be rebuilt.
No. 'Self-confidence' is an uncountable noun. You cannot have 'a self-confidence'. You have 'self-confidence', 'some self-confidence', or 'a lot of self-confidence'.
Self-confidence is quiet, internal, and based on realistic self-assessment. Arrogance is loud, often external projection of superiority that may mask insecurity and involves looking down on others.
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