conscience

noun con·science \ˈkän(t)-shən(t)s\

: the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong

: a feeling that something you have done is morally wrong

Full Definition of CONSCIENCE

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

b : a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts

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

archaic : consciousness

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

: sensitive regard for fairness or justice : scruple

— con·science·less \-ləs\ adjective

— in all conscience or in conscience

: in all fairness

See conscience defined for English-language learners

See conscience defined for kids

Examples of CONSCIENCE

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

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

Other Psychology Terms

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

IN CONSCIENCE Defined for Kids

conscience

noun con·science \ˈkän-shəns\

Definition of CONSCIENCE for Kids

: a sense of right and wrong and a feeling that what is right should be done <Her conscience told her to tell the truth.>

Word Root of CONSCIENCE

The Latin word scīre, meaning “to know” or “to understand,” gives us the root sci. Words from the Latin scīre have something to do with knowing or understanding. Science is the understanding of the world and how everything in it works. A person's conscience is the knowledge of right and wrong and the feeling that he or she should do right. Anything that is conscious knows what it is feeling.

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