conscientious
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
careful and painstaking; particular; meticulous; scrupulous.
conscientious application to the work at hand.
adjective
-
involving or taking great care; painstaking; diligent
-
governed by or done according to conscience
Synonym Usage
See painstaking.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conscientious
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin conscientiōsus, equivalent to Latin conscienti(a) conscience + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
If someone is conscientious, that person strives to do what's right and to carry out her duties. Conscientious people show care and put in a big effort. Being conscientious has to do with being careful, thoughtful, and decent. A conscientious doctor will do everything possible to help a patient. A conscientious teacher will spend extra time with students, just to make sure they're learning. A boss wishes every worker could be conscientious: it's a rare and wonderful trait. To be conscientious, you have to be willing to do the right thing even when it's difficult. Unfortunately, many people aren't conscientious.
Vocabulary lists containing conscientious
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Great Gatsby
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Labor Day Lexicon: Words That Put You To Work
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And then this most conscientious of musicians began to cancel performances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
As a young man, Hockney was a conscientious objector and did his military service as a hospital orderly, before studying at the Bradford School of Art and then London's Royal College of Art from 1959.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Mike Prysner, the executive director of the Center on Conscience and War, a group that provides legal support and counsel for conscientious objectors, told Salon that they have seen a huge increase in interest.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
Still, Lu said he doesn’t believe sustainable businesses — and a more conscientious consumerism — are dead.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
If the copyists are merely conscientious, they produce works of craft.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
