con·fi·dence 
/ˈkɑ:nfədəns/ noun
plural con·fi·denc·es /ˈkɑ:nfədəns/ noun 1 [noncount] : a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something
▪ The class gave me more confidence. ▪ He lacked the confidence to succeed. ▪ The experience gave her the confidence to start her own business. ▪ Good grades boosted/bolstered her confidence. ▪ It takes time to build/gain confidence when you are learning a new skill. ▪ He's brimming with confidence. = He's full of confidence. ▪ They have an air of confidence about them. — often + in ▪ He has a lot of confidence in himself. — see also self-confidence 2 [noncount] : a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something
▪ The candidate has won/lost the confidence [=trust] of voters. ▪ She has done little to gain/earn their confidence. ▪ There is a recent increase in consumer confidence. [=the good feelings that people have about the economy] — often + in ▪ They have complete/full confidence in their coach. ▪ His parents had confidence in their son's ability to succeed. ▪ The case inspired/restored confidence in our system of justice. ▪ Recent scandals have undermined confidence in the city's public officials. — see also vote of confidence, vote of no confidence 3 [noncount] : the feeling of being certain that something will happen or that something is true
▪ School officials express confidence that the problem will soon be resolved. ▪ We still can't talk about the future with any degree of confidence. [=we don't know what will happen in the future] ▪ We have every confidence [=we are sure] that you'll make the right decision. 4 [noncount] : a relationship in which you tell personal and private information to someone
▪ Doctors cannot betray the confidence of their patients. [=cannot reveal their patients' personal information to other people] ▪ She accused him of a betrayal/breach of confidence. ▪ He told me in confidence that he didn't know how to read. ▪ Your personal information will be kept in strict/strictest confidence. [=no one will be told your personal information] ◊If you take someone into your confidence, you tell someone secrets or private information about your life.
▪ She took me into her confidence and told me all about her health problems. 5 [count] : a secret that you tell someone you trust
▪ close friends sharing confidences ▪ She accused him of betraying a confidence. [=she said that he told her secret to other people]
▪ The class gave me more confidence. ▪ He lacked the confidence to succeed. ▪ The experience gave her the confidence to start her own business. ▪ Good grades boosted/bolstered her confidence. ▪ It takes time to build/gain confidence when you are learning a new skill. ▪ He's brimming with confidence. = He's full of confidence. ▪ They have an air of confidence about them. — often + in ▪ He has a lot of confidence in himself. — see also self-confidence
▪ The candidate has won/lost the confidence [=trust] of voters. ▪ She has done little to gain/earn their confidence. ▪ There is a recent increase in consumer confidence. [=the good feelings that people have about the economy] — often + in ▪ They have complete/full confidence in their coach. ▪ His parents had confidence in their son's ability to succeed. ▪ The case inspired/restored confidence in our system of justice. ▪ Recent scandals have undermined confidence in the city's public officials. — see also vote of confidence, vote of no confidence
▪ School officials express confidence that the problem will soon be resolved. ▪ We still can't talk about the future with any degree of confidence. [=we don't know what will happen in the future] ▪ We have every confidence [=we are sure] that you'll make the right decision.
▪ Doctors cannot betray the confidence of their patients. [=cannot reveal their patients' personal information to other people] ▪ She accused him of a betrayal/breach of confidence. ▪ He told me in confidence that he didn't know how to read. ▪ Your personal information will be kept in strict/strictest confidence. [=no one will be told your personal information] ◊If you take someone into your confidence, you tell someone secrets or private information about your life.
▪ She took me into her confidence and told me all about her health problems.
▪ close friends sharing confidences ▪ She accused him of betraying a confidence. [=she said that he told her secret to other people]
