confidentiality

con-fi-den-ti-al-i-ty · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The state of being kept secret or private.

  2. 2.

    The ethical or legal obligation to keep information private.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    breach of confidentiality — unauthorized disclosure of private information
  • •
    confidentiality agreement — a legal contract to keep information secret
  • •
    maintain confidentiality — to keep information private
  • •
    patient confidentiality — protection of medical information

Related words

Antonyms: disclosure, openness, publicity
See also: confidential, discretion, privacy, secret
Synonyms: discretion, privacy, secrecy

Etymology

From Medieval Latin "confidentialitas" meaning the state of being confidential, from "confidentia" (confidence), from Latin "confidere" (to trust).