conscience

con·science

Use conscience in a sentence

Brad wanted to clear his conscience so he decided to be honest with his dad.

noun

The definition of conscience is a personal awareness of right and wrong that you use to guide your actions to do right.

An example of conscience is the personal ethics that keep you from cheating on an exam.

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MLA Style

"conscience." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience>.

APA Style

conscience. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience

conscience

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
Obs.
1. consciousness
2. inner thoughts or feelings

Origin of conscience

Old French from Classical Latin conscientia, consciousness, moral sense from present participle of conscire from com-, with + scire, to know (see science): replacing Middle English inwit, knowledge within

conscience Idioms

in (all) conscience

in fairness; on any reasonable ground

on one's conscience

causing one to feel guilty

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MLA Style

"conscience." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience>.

APA Style

conscience. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience

conscience

noun

a. An awareness of morality in regard to one's behavior; a sense of right and wrong that urges one to act morally: Let your conscience be your guide.
b. A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation's conscience.
c. Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience.
The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration.
Obsolete Consciousness or awareness of something.

Origin of conscience

Middle English from Old French from Latin cōnscientia from cōnsciēns cōnscient- present participle of cōnscīre to be conscious of com- intensive pref. ; see com- . scīre to know ; see skei- in Indo-European roots.

Related Forms:

con′science·less
adjective

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"conscience." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience>.

APA Style

conscience. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience

Noun

(plural consciences)

The moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects one's own behaviour; inwit.
(chiefly fiction) A personification of the moral sense of right and wrong, usually in the form of a person, a being or merely a voice that gives moral lessons and advices.

Usage notes

Adjectives often used with "conscience": good, bad, guilty.
Phrases: To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.

Related terms Terms etymologically related to conscience

Origin

From Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia (“knowledge within oneself”), from consciens, present participle of conscire (“to know, to be conscious (of wrong)”), from com- (“together”) + scire (“to know”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"conscience." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 22 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience>.

APA Style

conscience. (n.d.). Retrieved February 22nd, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Conscience

conscience - Medical Definition

n.

1. An awareness of morality in regard to one's behavior; a sense of right and wrong that urges one to act morally: Let your conscience be your guide.
2. A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation's conscience.
3. Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience.
The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one's actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration.

Related Forms: