conscience

[ kon-shuhns ]

noun

1. the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action:

   to follow the dictates of conscience.

2. the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual.
3. an inhibiting sense of what is prudent:

   I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me.

4. conscientiousness.
5. Obsolete. consciousness; self-knowledge.
6. Obsolete. strict and reverential observance.

conscience

/ ˈkɒnʃəns /

noun

1. 1. the sense of right and wrong that governs a person's thoughts and actions
   2. regulation of one's actions in conformity to this sense
   3. a supposed universal faculty of moral insight
2. conscientiousness; diligence
3. a feeling of guilt or anxiety

   he has a conscience about his unkind action

4. obsolete.
   consciousness
5. in conscience or in all conscience
   1. with regard to truth and justice
   2. certainly
6. on one's conscience
   causing feelings of guilt or remorse

Derived Forms

• ˈconscienceless, adjective

Other Words From

• conscience·less adjective
• conscience·less·ly adverb
• conscience·less·ness noun
• sub·conscience noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conscience¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conscientia “knowledge, awareness, conscience”; equivalent to con- + science

Word History and Origins

Origin of conscience¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin conscientia knowledge, consciousness, from conscīre to know; see conscious

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. have something on one's conscience, to feel guilty about something, as an act that one considers wrong:

   She behaves as if she had something on her conscience.

2. in all conscience, Also in conscience.
   1. in all reason and fairness.
   2. certainly; assuredly.

More idioms and phrases containing conscience

see have a clear conscience ; in conscience .

Example Sentences

The text of the measure was unenforceable, but the dead words remained in the California Constitution, a dead weight on our collective conscience.

From Los Angeles Times

Exercising conscience in the most humane sense isn’t about feeling personal virtue.

From Salon

After his sacking, Vilda said he has a "clear conscience" and that personal criticisms were "unfair".

From BBC

MPs will get a free vote on the issue, meaning they can choose based on their own conscience rather than having to follow the party line.

From BBC

MPs at Westminster will be given a free vote, meaning they can choose based on their own conscience rather than having to follow a party line.

From BBC

Related Words

• shame