Conscience
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkɒn.ʃəns/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Conscience is a noun meaning The ethical or moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions.
Meaning
The ethical or moral sense of right and wrong, chiefly as it affects a person’s own behaviour and forms their attitude to their past actions.
More Meanings
- (obsolete) Consciousness; thinking; awareness, especially self-awareness.
- (chiefly fiction, narratology) A personification of the moral sense of right and wrong, usually in the form of a person, a being or merely a voice that gives moral lessons and advices.
Example Sentences
Your conscience is your highest authority.
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.
As for Grierson, he poured liquor into himself as if it were so much soothing syrup, demonstrating that a good digestion is the highest form of good conscience.
1949, Albert Einstein, as quoted by Virgil Henshaw in Albert Einstein: Philosopher Scientist, Never do anything against conscience, even if the state demands it.
Word Forms
- consciences
Synonyms for conscience
Depending on context, synonyms include scruples.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include scruples, opinion, belief, realisation, knowledge, cognisance.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.