conscience

noun

con·​science ˈkän(t)-shən(t)s 

1

a

: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one's own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good

She had a guilty conscience.

b

: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts

guided by conscience

c

: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego

2

: conformity to what one considers to be correct, right, or morally good : conscientiousness

3

: sensitive regard for fairness or justice : scruple

a wealthy man with no conscience

4

archaic : consciousness

conscienceless

ˈkän(t)-shən(t)s-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

in all conscience or in conscience

: in all fairness

She could not in all conscience remain silent.

Examples of conscience in a Sentence

… it is a politician's natural instinct to avoid taking any stand that seems controversial unless and until the voters demand it or conscience absolutely requires it. —Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, 2006

We like to imagine literature as the still, small voice of human conscience. It is that only rarely, however. Actively and passively, it has always borne along pernicious ideas. —Marilynne Robinson, New York Times Book Review, 15 Mar. 1987

So she had lied to him, but so had he to her, they were quits on that score and his conscience was calm. —Bernard Malamud, The Magic Barrel, (1950) 1958

The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no consideration, no decency … —E. B. White, Charlotte's Web, 1952

The thief must have had an attack of conscience, because he returned the wallet with nothing missing from it.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Republicans should question their own members who fail in other areas that require adherence to basic standards of conscience and competence. —Kimberly Ross, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Their uncompromising moral clarity shaped the conscience of the West, later echoed by Christian preachers crusading for abolition, civil rights, and human dignity. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

Young-hee, meanwhile, represents pure moral conscience, which is unwelcome during the intensity of this competitive, fast-developing era. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025

Caroline conveniently grows a conscience right around the time when the couple starts robbing banks in earnest. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conscientia, from conscient-, consciens, present participle of conscire to be conscious, be conscious of guilt, from com- + scire to know — more at science

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing conscience

• clear conscience
• conscience money
• conscience-stricken
• guilty/troubled conscience
• matter of (individual) conscience
• on one's conscience
• prisoner of conscience
• social conscience
• vote one's conscience

Kids Definition

conscience

noun

con·​science ˈkän-chən(t)s 

: knowledge of right and wrong and a feeling one should do what is right

Medical Definition

conscience

noun

con·​science ˈkän-chən(t)s 

: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego

Legal Definition

conscience

adjective

con·​science

: exempting persons whose religious beliefs forbid compliance

conscience laws, which allow physicians…to refuse to participate in abortions

—W. J. Curran