Conscience definition
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.
noun
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.
noun
Inner thoughts or feelings.
noun
A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement.
A document that serves as the nation's conscience.
noun
Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct.
A person of unflagging conscience.
noun
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(obsolete) Consciousness or awareness of something.
noun
Consciousness.
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.
noun
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.
noun
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.
noun
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Conformity to one's own sense of right conduct.
A person of unflagging conscience.
noun
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.
noun
(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.
noun
A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement.
A document that serves as the nation's conscience.
noun
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in (all good) conscience
- In all fairness; by any reasonable standard.
idiom
on (one's) conscience
- Causing one to feel guilty or uneasy.
idiom
in (all) conscience
- in fairness; on any reasonable ground
idiom
on one's conscience
- causing one to feel guilty
idiom
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
conscience
Plural:
consciencesIdioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of conscience
-
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 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”).
From Wiktionary