conscience

con-science · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    An inner feeling or voice that guides one's sense of right and wrong.

  2. 2.

    A sense of moral responsibility or ethical principles.

Forms

plural: consciences

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    guilty conscience — feelings of remorse for wrongdoing
  • •
    clear conscience — freedom from guilt
  • •
    in good conscience — in accordance with one's moral principles
  • •
    prick of conscience — a sudden feeling of guilt
  • •
    prisoner of conscience — someone imprisoned for their beliefs

Related words

See also: conscious, ethics, guilt, morality
Synonyms: ethics, moral sense, principles, scruples

Etymology

From Old French conscience, from Latin conscientia ("knowledge within oneself, sense of right"), from conscire ("to know, be conscious of"), from con- ("together") + scire ("to know").