conscientious

[ kon-shee-en-shuhs, kon-see- ]

adjective

1. governed by conscience; controlled by or done according to one's inner sense of what is right; principled:

   She's a conscientious judge, who does not let personal prejudices influence her decisions.

   Synonyms: dedicated, devoted, faithful, honest, upright, just

2. careful and painstaking; particular; meticulous; scrupulous:

   conscientious application to the work at hand.

conscientious

/ ˌkɒnʃɪˈɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. involving or taking great care; painstaking; diligent
2. governed by or done according to conscience

Derived Forms

• ˌconsciˈentiousness, noun
• ˌconsciˈentiously, adverb

Other Words From

• consci·entious·ly adverb
• consci·entious·ness noun
• hyper·consci·entious adjective
• hyper·consci·entious·ly adverb
• hyper·consci·entious·ness noun
• over·consci·entious adjective
• over·consci·entious·ly adverb
• uncon·sci·entious adjective
• uncon·sci·entious·ly adverb
• uncon·sci·entious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conscientious¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin conscientiōsus, equivalent to Latin conscienti(a) conscience + -ōsus -ous

Synonym Study

See painstaking.

Example Sentences

He was a conscientious and much-liked history teacher in a secondary school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, in the prosperous western suburbs of Paris.

From BBC

He said it was simplistic and offensive to blame staff, when so many are "conscientious" and the "victims of various pressures, not least time".

From BBC

Erewhon is expanding to so many locations that the chain is bound to suffer the fate of Whole Foods and be replaced by a new, more conscientious iteration of the clean-eating superfood movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Hemming said he had never been in trouble at school and was conscientious with his studies.

From BBC

Gray also said a section of the bill that would grant a right to conscientious objection could also be outside Holyrood’s devolved powers.

From BBC

Related Words

• honest
• honorable
• principled
• responsible
• scrupulous
• strict