The author examines confidentiality both from a theoretical perspective using concept analysis and through a clinically based, empirical investigation. A review of the literature determines defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. The themes from definitions of confidentiality provided by participants in a research project on confidentiality issues in the context of HIV/AIDS also are described. The author compares the results from the two approaches and discusses implications for clinical practice, including but not limited to people with HIV/AIDS.