What does confidential mean?
Word: Confidential
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Confidential means meant to stay known only to a few people.
Synonyms: secret
How do you spell confidential?
Syllables: con - fi - den - tial
Tricky part: The sh sound before the final l is written ti, but many pupils write a c instead, as in confidencial.
Watch out for: confidencial, confidentail
Memory tip: Think of a secret kept in a Tiny circle: the t, not a c, carries the sh sound.
Confidential in a sentence
Example 1: The bank keeps every customer's details confidential.
Example 2: Our class survey answers are confidential, so you need not write your name.
Example 3: Head teachers often discuss confidential matters behind closed doors.
Fun Fact
The word goes back to a Latin verb meaning to trust fully, which makes sense: you share a secret only with someone you trust.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
confidenntial
a) t
b) n
c) d
d) l
Show answer
b) n. One n is enough after the e.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word confidential as used in the sentence:
Please keep these exam marks confidential until the head has seen them.
a) restricted
b) personal
c) public
d) private
Show answer
c) public. Public means open to everyone, the reverse of what is being asked; private, personal and restricted all fit the request.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
The sealed envelope holds a ilfionndcaet report for the principal.
a) coincidental
b) differential
c) consequential
d) confidential
Show answer
d) confidential. A lone f, a c and an o all have to be used, and no other option has that mix.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the suffix ity to make a real noun. Choose it.
ity
a) curtain
b) confidential
c) button
d) saucer
Show answer
b) confidential. Adding ity to confidential gives a noun; curtain, button and saucer are already nouns and take no such ending.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. An envelope is marked 'confidential'. What should a clerk do with it?
a) make copies of it for all the teachers
b) pin it up on the staff notice board
c) hand it only to the person named on it
d) read it aloud at the next meeting
Show answer
c) hand it only to the person named on it
2. Which of these should a school treat as confidential?
a) the date of the annual sports day
b) the colour of the school uniform
c) a pupil's home address and phone number
d) the timetable for the summer term
Show answer
c) a pupil's home address and phone number
