noun
conscience
KON-shuhns
noun
1
An inner sense of right and wrong that shapes a person's behavior and feelings about their own actions.
"His conscience wouldn't let him keep the extra change the cashier gave him."
"She had a guilty conscience about lying to her parents."
How to Use Conscience
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe inner voice that tells you whether something you did was right or wrong.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "conscious" (aware) — conscience is about morality, not awareness.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a clear conscience
a guilty conscience
in good conscience
Word Forms
consciences plural
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His _____ wouldn't let him keep the extra change the cashier gave him.
Etymology
From Old French "conscience," from Latin "conscientia," meaning "knowledge within oneself," from "com-" ("together") and "scire" ("to know").