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

subconsciouses plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• subconsciouses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of subconscious

First recorded in 1825–35; sub- + conscious

Explanation

Subconscious describes something that is just below your awareness, like at a subconscious level hoping your friend's boyfriend breaks up with her — you didn't even realize you felt that way until it happened. If you are aware of something, you are conscious of it, like being conscious of your tendency to talk too much when you are nervous: you watch for it and try to control it. Most words that start with the prefix sub- are something “under” the root word: something subconscious is under or below your awareness. Maybe in time, it will surface — you might get to the root of why you get so nervous in the first place.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subconscious

“It’s the whole subconscious bias problem,” said Harvard historian of science and corporate influence expert Naomi Oreskes.

From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026

When I walked into the arcade, I experienced a feeling I’d stuffed down into my subconscious for decades: the stultifying awkwardness of a middle school dance.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

You just tap into things in your subconscious that are waiting to become music, I feel like.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

Evans says the gesture was a "an involuntary, subconscious twitch" that he was "unaware" of.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026

Sometimes I thought I heard Edmond’s voice in my head but it always turned out to be my subconscious replaying old tapes out of some perverse kind of nostalgia.

From "How I Live Now" by Meg Rosoff

Related Words

• psyche