Confidentiality
/ˌkɒnfɪˌdenʃiˈæləti/
Definitions
The state of keeping information private or secret.
/ˌkɒnfɪˌdenʃiˈæləti/
The state of keeping information private
The company’s lawyers stressed the importance of confidentiality regarding the merger.
💡 Simply: Confidentiality is like having a secret that you promise to keep just between you and another person or group. It's all about trust and making sure information stays private.
👶 For kids: Confidentiality is like having a secret that you promise to keep safe and not tell anyone else.
More Examples
Breaching patient confidentiality can lead to severe legal consequences.
We signed a confidentiality agreement to protect sensitive business data.
How It's Used
"Lawyers are bound by strict rules of confidentiality."
"Patient confidentiality is a core principle of medical ethics."
"The company signed a confidentiality agreement with its potential investors."
Idioms & expressions
confidential information
Information that is private and not meant for public disclosure.
"Employees must protect confidential information from unauthorized access."
confidential agreement
A legal document outlining the terms of confidentiality between parties.
"Before disclosing trade secrets, the company had to sign a confidential agreement."
From Late Middle English, from Late Latin *confidentiālis* ("trustworthy") + -ity. The Latin word *confidentia* means "trust, confidence, assurance".
The concept of confidentiality has been present throughout history, but its legal and ethical implications have become more defined in recent centuries, especially in fields like law and medicine.
Memory tip
Think of a 'confident' person who you trust to keep a secret. Confidence + ability = confidentiality.