confidant

A confidant is a person in whom one places particular trust and with whom one shares private matters, secrets, or innermost thoughts. The relationship is typically close and personal rather than formal, and it implies discretion and loyalty.

Etymology and usage: The word comes from French confidant, from Latin confidare meaning "to trust." The feminine form confidante is also used, though confidant is often treated as gender-neutral in contemporary English.

Role and context: Confidants appear in everyday life as trusted friends, family members, or advisers who provide a safe space for disclosure. They are expected to keep confidences and to offer support, not to dictate or disclose information without consent. In literature and media, confidants help develop protagonists by bearing their secrets or offering counsel.

Examples: A well-known fictional confidant is Dr. John Watson, who serves as Sherlock Holmes's trusted companion and recorder of events. Real-world confidants can include close friends or mentors who listen, advise, and maintain privacy.

Limitations: While a confidant is trusted with sensitive information, professional contexts may require formal confidentiality obligations. The term emphasizes personal trust rather than formal authority.