confidante

noun

con·​fi·​dante ˈkän-fə-ˌdänt How to pronounce confidante (audio)
 also  -ˌdant,
-dənt
: confidant
especially : one who is a woman

Did you know?

Is it confident or confidant? (Or is it confidante?)

If you find yourself unsure whether you should choose confident or confidant don’t feel bad; confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant. The difference is quite simple: confidant is a noun (meaning "a person in whom you confide things"), and confident is an adjective (defined as “having confidence”). You may well be confident in your confidant, but you would not be confidant in your confident. Although this distinction has not always been observed by writers, confidante is generally used for a female confidant. The word confidant is more frequently used to describe a man, but it may be applied to either gender.

Examples of confidante in a Sentence

She was her closest friend and confidante. only her closest confidantes know what she's going through
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But while most were dressed in their Oscars best, Bowen Yang, who plays an unwavering confidante to Glinda in Wicked, appeared in his full Shiz University attire. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025 In the late '90s and early aughts, he could be spotted playing the confidantes of Julia Roberts' character in My Best Friend's Wedding and Madonna's in The Next Best Thing. Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025 Early speculation has alighted on unscripted chief, and Moore confidante, Kate Phillips taking on the caretaker role while recruitment is live. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025 This month marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the original objective of which is not fully known outside of Putin’s circle of confidantes. Michael Szalma, Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for confidante

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French confidente, feminine of confident confidant

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of confidante was in 1662

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Cite this Entry

“Confidante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confidante. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

confidante

noun
con·​fi·​dante ˈkän-fə-ˌdant How to pronounce confidante (audio)
-ˌdänt
: confidant
especially : one who is a woman

More from Merriam-Webster on confidante

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