Confident vs. Confidence: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 6, 2023
"Confident" is an adjective describing someone with self-assuredness, while "confidence" is a noun referring to the feeling or belief in one's abilities.
Key Differences
1. "Confident" is an adjective that describes a state or quality. When someone is confident, it means they possess a strong sense of self-assurance and trust in their abilities. "Confidence," on the other hand, is the noun form representing that feeling or belief of trust in oneself or something.
2. When someone says, "She is confident," they are describing a person's demeanor or attitude. In contrast, saying "She has confidence" conveys that the person holds a belief in her capabilities or possesses a certain level of self-esteem.
3. "Confident" often characterizes people, suggesting they act or appear certain and undoubting in their actions. "Confidence" can be seen as the source or wellspring of this attitude — the inner belief that fuels the external display of self-assuredness.
4. It's common to hear someone described as "looking confident," which is a visual or perceived observation of their state. However, "having confidence" is a more internal sentiment and might not always manifest in observable ways.
5. While "confident" is generally used to depict people or entities, "confidence" can be applied more broadly. For instance, one might have "confidence in a system" or "confidence in a future outcome."
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Noun
Describes/Refers to
A quality or state
A feeling or belief
Usage Example
"He is confident."
"He has confidence."
Typically Paired With
Entities (people, organizations, etc.)
Abstract concepts (belief, trust, level, etc.)
Relationship
Describes the manifestation of a quality.
Represents the source or inner sentiment.
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Confident and Confidence Definitions
Confident
Expressing assurance; demonstrating positivity.
He spoke in a confident tone.
Confidence
Belief in one's abilities.
With practice, he gained confidence in singing.
Confident
Feeling or showing self-assuredness.
She was confident in her presentation skills.
Confidence
Trust or faith in someone or something.
I have confidence in our team.
Confident
Being certain of a fact or outcome.
He was confident they would win the game.
Confidence
A belief or conviction that an outcome will be favorable
I have every confidence that we can find a solution.
Confident
Displaying no doubt.
She gave a confident nod.
Confidence
Belief in the certainty of something
The engineers determined with confidence that the ship could withstand heavy seas.
Confident
Trusting firmly in oneself or others.
She's always been confident in her decisions.
Confidence
Belief in the effectiveness of one's own abilities or in one's favorable acceptance by others; self-confidence.
Confident
Feeling or showing certainty, as of success
Was confident that the venture would be profitable.
Confidence
Trust or faith in a person or thing
We are placing our confidence in you to get the job done.
Confident
Feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured
A confident driver.
Confidence
A trusting relationship
I took them into my confidence.
Confident
(Obsolete) Confiding; trustful.
Confidence
That which is confided; a secret
A friend does not betray confidences.
Confident
Very sure of something; positive.
I'm pretty confident that she's not lying, she's acting normally.
He was confident of success.
Confidence
A feeling of assurance that a confidant will keep a secret
I am telling you this in strict confidence.
Confident
Self-assured, self-reliant, sure of oneself.
Confidence
Of, relating to, or involving a swindle or fraud
A confidence scheme.
A confidence trickster.
Confident
Forward, impudent.
Confidence
Self-assurance.
Confident
Obsolete form of confidant
Confidence
A feeling of certainty; firm trust or belief; faith.
Confident
See Confidant.
Confidence
Information held in secret; a piece of information shared but to thence be kept in secret.
Confident
Having or marked by confidence or assurance;
A confident speaker
A confident reply
His manner is more confident these days
Confident of fulfillment
Confidence
(dated) Boldness; presumption.
Confident
Persuaded of; very sure;
Were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join
I am positive he is lying
Was confident he would win
Confidence
The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; - formerly followed by of, now commonly by in.
Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity.
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God.
Confident
Not liable to error in judgment or action;
Most surefooted of the statesmen who dealt with the depression
Demonstrates a surefooted storytelling talent
Confidence
That in which faith is put or reliance had.
The Lord shall be thy confidence.
Confidence
Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.
Be confident to speak, Northumberland;We three are but thyself.
Confidence
The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstances; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; - often with self prefixed.
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence;Do not go forth to-day.
But confidence then bore thee on secureEither to meet no danger, or to findMatter of glorious trial.
Confidence
Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.
As confident as is the falcon's flightAgainst a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.
Confidence
Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them.
Sir, I desire some confidence with you.
I am confident that very much be done.
Confidence
Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous.
The fool rageth and is confident.
Confidence
Giving occasion for confidence.
The cause was more confident than the event was prosperous.
Confidence
Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities;
His assurance in his superiority did not make him popular
After that failure he lost his confidence
She spoke with authority
Confidence
A feeling of trust (in someone or something);
I have confidence in our team
Confidence is always borrowed, never owned
Confidence
A state of confident hopefulness that events will be favorable;
Public confidence in the economy
Confidence
A trustful relationship;
He took me into his confidence
He betrayed their trust
Confidence
A secret that is confided or entrusted to another;
Everyone trusted him with their confidences
The priest could not reveal her confidences
Confidence
Certainty about something.
I say this with full confidence.
Confidence
A feeling of self-assuredness.
Winning boosted her confidence.
Confidence
A private or secret matter told to someone.
She shared her feelings in confidence.
FAQs
What does "having confidence" mean?
It means possessing a belief in one's abilities or the reliability of something.
Can "confident" be used to describe things other than people?
Yes, for instance, "The company made a confident decision."
How is "confident" different from "overconfident"?
While "confident" denotes a healthy self-assuredness, "overconfident" implies excessive or unwarranted confidence.
What does "confident" describe?
"Confident" is an adjective describing someone with self-assuredness and trust in their abilities.
Can an individual be "confident" but lack "confidence"?
It's contradictory, but someone might appear confident externally while internally struggling with self-doubt.
Can one be quietly "confident"?
Absolutely, confidence doesn't always have to be loud or showy.
Can animals display "confidence"?
Yes, for example, a dog might walk with a confident stride when familiar with its surroundings.
Does "confidence" always refer to self-belief?
Mostly, but it can also refer to trust in others or the certainty of an event.
How is "confidence" used in a sentence?
"Confidence" is a noun, e.g., "She has a lot of confidence in her abilities."
How can someone build "confidence"?
Through positive experiences, practice, affirmation, and overcoming challenges.
Can an object be described as "confident"?
It's less common, but in a metaphorical sense, yes, like "The design of the car looks confident."
Can "confidence" be negative?
Generally, it's seen as positive, but too much confidence can be detrimental if it becomes arrogance or complacency.
Is being "confident" the same as being arrogant?
No, while confidence is a positive self-assuredness, arrogance often involves belittling others.
How can one gauge another person's "confidence"?
Through their behavior, speech, body language, and actions.
Is "confidence" always visible?
Not necessarily; while it often manifests externally, it's fundamentally an internal belief or feeling.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
