consciousness

noun con·scious·ness \-nəs\

: the condition of being conscious : the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you

: a person's mind and thoughts

: knowledge that is shared by a group of people

Full Definition of CONSCIOUSNESS

a : the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself

b : the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact

c : awareness; especially : concern for some social or political cause

: the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought : mind

: the totality of conscious states of an individual

: the normal state of conscious life <regained consciousness>

: the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes

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See consciousness defined for kids

First Known Use of CONSCIOUSNESS

1629

Related to CONSCIOUSNESS

Synonyms: advertence, advertency, awareness, cognizance, attention, ear, eye, heed, knowledge, mindfulness, note, notice, observance, observation

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

CONSCIOUSNESS Defined for Kids

consciousness

noun con·scious·ness \ˈkän-shəs-nəs\

Definition of CONSCIOUSNESS for Kids

: the condition of being mentally awake and active <Following surgery, she slowly regained consciousness.>

: the part of the mind involving thought and awareness <The memory is preserved in my consciousness.>

: knowledge of something specified <News reports raised consciousness of the problem.>

Medical Dictionary

consciousness

noun con·scious·ness \ˈkän-chə-snəs\

Medical Definition of CONSCIOUSNESS

: the totality in psychology of sensations, perceptions, ideas, attitudes, and feelings of which an individual or a group is aware at any given time or within a given time span <altered states of consciousness, such as sleep, dreaming and hypnosis—Bob Gaines>

: waking life (as that to which one returns after sleep, trance, or fever) in which one's normal mental powers are present <the ether wore off and the patient regained consciousness>

: the upper part of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes