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

Otero Alcantara, designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022 for insulting national symbols, contempt and disturbing the public order.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

Julia wrestles with her conscience the entire time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The Times, for its part, called the subpoenas “an extraordinary escalation” and said the appearance of federal law enforcement at journalists’ homes should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the First Amendment.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

"My concern that the safety of women and girls even appears to have been compromised is too much for my conscience to bear, and this is why I am resigning."

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

It’s an attempt to set a backfire to his own empathy—whatever it takes to prevent his conscience from burning him alive.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

But the proposal would let us show how we disagree with each other about our shared political life, and so help direct our collective agency without sacrificing the individual voices of our consciences.

From Slate ● May 11, 2026

She urged Labour MPs to "look into their consciences" and back a new inquiry by the Privileges Committee.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

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

They drafted a message to the white delegates, calling it a “moral appeal to the hearts and consciences of the people of our State.”

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• shame