conscience money

noun

1. money paid, often anonymously, to relieve one's conscience, as for an obligation previously evaded or a wrong done.

conscience money

noun

1. money paid voluntarily to compensate for dishonesty, esp money paid voluntarily for taxes formerly evaded

Word History and Origins

Origin of conscience money¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

To a certain extent this was what we should now call "conscience money."

From Project Gutenberg

There the agents of railroad companies distributed conscience money in the form of loans which were never to be paid back.

From Project Gutenberg

Or perhaps she subsequently sent conscience money to the Red Cross anonymously.

From Project Gutenberg

I only ordered the oysters and coffee; all the rest is conscience money—or sentiment—from the landlord.

From Project Gutenberg

There are over two hundred thousand dollars in securities and they have evidently been left there by somebody as conscience-money.

From Project Gutenberg