subconscious

American  

[suhb-kon-shuhs] / sʌbˈkɒn ʃəs /

adjective

1. existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond consciousness.

   the subconscious self.

2. imperfectly or not wholly conscious.

   subconscious motivations.

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noun

1. the totality of mental processes of which the individual is not aware; unreportable mental activities.

subconscious British  

/ sʌbˈkɒnʃəs /

adjective

1. acting or existing without one's awareness

   subconscious motive

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noun

1. psychoanal that part of the mind which is on the fringe of consciousness and contains material of which it is possible to become aware by redirecting attention Compare preconscious unconscious

Other Word Forms

• nonsubconscious adjective
• nonsubconsciousness noun
• subconsciously adverb
• subconsciousness noun

Etymology

Origin of subconscious

First recorded in 1825–35; sub- + conscious

Example Sentences

"It has physical repercussions and impacts on our subconscious."

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

The shift in attitude hasn’t been firmly diagrammed; instead, what’s going on here is mostly subconscious, like a collective unlocking of forbidden territory.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026

Also, my subconscious model for marriage wasn’t real.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2026

“You laugh, but there’s always that small part of your subconscious that goes, ‘you know that could be me, right?’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

Her subconscious mind held the reverberating echo of a hell of a bang, which had in fact been the thing that woke her rather than being tossed about.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• psyche