confidentiality
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confidentiality
The quality or duty of keeping entrusted or secret information to oneself and not passing it on. It is a central concept in professions such as doctor, lawyer, or priest.
Ärzte sind zur absoluten Verschwiegenheit über die Daten ihrer Patienten verpflichtet.
Doctors are obligated to maintain absolute confidentiality about their patients' data.
The word derives from the verb 'verschweigen' (to keep something secret). The ending '-heit' forms an abstract noun that describes the state or quality of being discreet or maintaining confidentiality.
Er ist für seine Verschwiegenheit bekannt.
He is known for his confidentiality.
Common phrases are 'zur Verschwiegenheit verpflichtet sein' (to be bound to confidentiality), 'Verschwiegenheit wahren' (to maintain confidentiality), or 'Verschwiegenheit zusichern' (to assure confidentiality).
Als Anwalt muss er absolute Verschwiegenheit wahren.
As a lawyer, he must maintain absolute confidentiality.
The obligation is expressed with the preposition 'zu'. The content that is being kept confidential is often indicated with 'über' (+ accusative).
Therapeuten sind gesetzlich zur Verschwiegenheit verpflichtet.
Therapists are legally bound to confidentiality.
secret
'das Geheimnis' and 'die Verschwiegenheit' are closely related because both have to do with information that should not be passed on. A 'Geheimnis' is the information itself. 'Verschwiegenheit' describes a person's quality or duty of keeping this information to themselves. So you can tell someone a secret and expect confidentiality from that person. The words can be confused because they occur in the same context. The simple difference is: 'das Geheimnis' is the content, while 'Verschwiegenheit' is not passing it on.
Von einem Anwalt erwartet man Verschwiegenheit.
You expect confidentiality from a lawyer.
Lisa hat mir ein Geheimnis erzählt, aber ich darf es niemandem sagen.
Lisa told me a secret, but I am not allowed to tell anyone.