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Which character serves as Pinocchio's conscience in the 1940 animated film?

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conscience

American  

[kon-shuhns] / ˈkɒn ʃəns /

noun

• consciences
  plural

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.

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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.

conscience British  

/ 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. 1. with regard to truth and justice

   2. certainly

6. causing feelings of guilt or remorse

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conscience More Idioms  

1. see have a clear conscience; in conscience.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• consciencelessness
  noun
• subconscience
  noun
• conscienceless
  adjective
• consciencelessly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consciences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of conscience

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

Explanation

A conscience is a built-in sense of what's right and what's wrong. That sick feeling in your stomach after you lied to your brother about borrowing his skateboard? That might be your conscience bothering you. The word conscience contains the word science, which comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning "to know" or "knowledge." You can think of your conscience as your knowledge of yourself, especially when it comes to your own morals, or your feelings about right and wrong. Pangs of conscience, which feel like an uncomfortable inner voice, are helpful when you're trying to decide the right thing to do in a particular situation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

conscience consciences

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the killing of these women and others was a "stain on our national conscience".

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

David has one errand of conscience before he goes to the clinic—he apologizes to a friend he once betrayed—but otherwise approaches death with the formality of a man keeping a schedule.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The best way to do that is to vote your conscience.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

May I suggest a workshop on growing a conscience?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026

But Miss Bates soon came—“Very happy and obliged”—but Emma’s conscience told her that there was not the same cheerful volubility as before—less ease of look and manner.

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

The Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, for example, brought together Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish Americans who opposed the war because it violated the nation’s ideals and religious consciences.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 19, 2026

The French film legend says that the most important thing for her about a film "is that it changes lives, changes people's consciences."

From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026

Alison said she hoped he and other officers "dig down into their memories, be honest about their failings, unearth their deeply buried consciences and tell the whole truth."

From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2025

Americans with normal levels of basic decency let their consciences prevent them from exploiting the death of a purported friend before he’s even buried.

From Salon ● Sep. 17, 2025

Their hearts and consciences might be as hard as flint, but their pocketbooks were as sensitive as a cat’s whiskers.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep

Related Words

• shame