Definition of 'conscience'

Word Frequency

conscience

(kɒnʃəns )

Word forms: plural consciences

See guilty conscience

2. uncountable noun

Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous.

He refused for reasons of conscience to sign a new law legalising abortion.

...the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.

3. See also prisoner of conscience

4. uncountable noun

Conscience is a feeling of guilt because you know you have done something that is wrong.

I'm so glad he had a pang of conscience.

They have shown a ruthless lack of conscience.

See in good conscience/in all conscience

See on your conscience

More Synonyms of conscience

Video: pronunciation of
conscience

conscience in British English

(ˈkɒnʃəns )

noun

the sense of right and wrong that governs a person's thoughts and actions

regulation of one's actions in conformity to this sense

a supposed universal faculty of moral insight

conscientiousness; diligence

a feeling of guilt or anxiety

he has a conscience about his unkind action

4. obsolete

consciousness

5. See in conscience

6. See on one's conscience

Derived forms

conscienceless (ˈconscienceless)

adjective

Word origin

C13: from Old French, from Latin conscientia knowledge, consciousness, from conscīre to know; see conscious

Word Frequency

conscience in American English

(ˈkɑnʃəns )

noun

a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with an urge to do right; moral judgment that opposes the violation of a previously recognized ethical principle and that leads to feelings of guilt if one violates such a principle

2. Obsolete

consciousness

inner thoughts or feelings

Idioms:

in (all) conscience

on one's conscience

Derived forms

conscienceless (ˈconscienceless)

adjective

Word origin

OFr < L conscientia, consciousness, moral sense < prp. of conscire < com-, with + scire, to know (see science): replacing ME inwit, knowledge within

Word Frequency

conscience in American English

(ˈkɑnʃəns)

noun

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

the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual

an inhibiting sense of what is prudent

I'd eat another piece of pie but my conscience would bother me

conscientiousness

5. obsolete

consciousness; self-knowledge

6. obsolete

strict and reverential observance

7. See have something on one's conscience

8. See in all conscience

Derived forms

conscienceless

adjective

consciencelessly

adverb

consciencelessness

noun

Word origin

[1175–1225; ME ‹ AF ‹ L conscientia knowledge, awareness, conscience. See con-, science]

Examples of 'conscience' in a sentence
conscience

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Our collective challenge is to nurture a sense of moral conscience in future generations.So can we wear cut-price party dresses with a clear conscience?They are low calorie and have a caramel flavour, so they taste as good as your conscience feels.He added:'My conscience is clear.If you try to ease your guilty conscience by telling her what happened, she will be miserable and it will almost certainly put paid to your friendship.She told the court:'I acted with trust and with a clear conscience with the only intention of defending the public interest.I have to go to my house with my conscience clear that I gave my all.This is certainly true of beliefs in the importance of freedom of conscience.He wanted to clear his conscience before he dies.They are displaying an alarming lack of social conscience.

Quotations

Conscience: the inner voice which warns us that someone may be lookingH.L. MenckenA Little Book in C Major

Thus conscience does make cowards of us allWilliam ShakespeareHamlet

Conscience is thoroughly well-bred and soon leaves off talking to those who do not wish to hear itSamuel Butler

A guilty conscience needs no accuser

COBUILD Collocations
conscience

clean conscience

clear conscience

freedom of conscience

moral conscience

religious conscience

troubled conscience

Trends of
conscience

View usage for:

In other languages
conscience

British English: conscience /ˈkɒnʃəns/ NOUN

Your conscience is the part of your mind that tells you if what you are doing is wrong. If you have a guilty conscience, or if you have something on your conscience, you feel guilty because you know you have done something wrong.

I started paying attention to my conscience.