conscience
gb/kˈɑnʃəns/ us/kˈɑnʃəns/
B2
English
~ 1800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
Inner moral sense
The part of your mind that tells you if what you are doing is right or wrong.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a clear/guilty conscience
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conscience' with 'conscious'. 'Conscience' is about moral sense; 'conscious' means awake or aware.
Synonyms
moral sense (A neutral term focusing on the ability to judge right from wrong.)
|
scruples (Often plural; emphasizes hesitation caused by moral concerns.)
Antonyms
immorality (The state of not following accepted moral rules.)
|
amorality (A lack of any moral sense, not caring about right or wrong.)
Collocations
clear conscience
|guilty conscience
|prick of conscience
|weigh on conscience
|act in good conscience
Themes
emotions
|ethics
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her conscience told her to return the lost wallet.
- He couldn't lie without feeling a pang of conscience.
- The decision weighed heavily on his conscience for years.
- She acted according to her conscience, even though it was unpopular.
- He has a clear conscience because he knows he told the truth.
Learner examples
- My conscience tells me to help her.
- He has a guilty conscience after lying.
- I feel bad in my conscience when I hurt someone.
- She listens to her conscience before making choices.
- He sleeps well because he has a clear conscience.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conscience
IPA
GB/kˈɑnʃəns/
US/kˈɑnʃəns/
Syllables & stress
con - science (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conscience
- Plural: conscience, consciences
Word family
Forms
consciences
noun
Core family
conscientious
adjective B2
conscientiously
adverb C1
Related words
conscientiousness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unconscientious
adjective
Expressions
have a clear conscience
1/hˈæv ə klˈɪɹ kˈɑnʃəns/
fixed phrase
To feel no guilt
To not feel bad because you believe you did nothing wrong.
Examples
- I have a clear conscience because I told the truth.
- She can face them with a clear conscience.
have a guilty conscience
1/hˈæv ə ɡˈɪlti kˈɑnʃəns/
fixed phrase
To feel guilt about actions
To feel bad because you think you did something wrong.
Examples
- He has a guilty conscience after cheating on the exam.
- A guilty conscience kept him awake all night.
in (all) conscience
1/ˈɪn ˈɔl kˈɑnʃəns/
fixed phrase
formal
Considering moral fairness
Used to say that you think something is fair or morally right.
Examples
- In all conscience, I cannot support this unfair plan.
- She could not, in conscience, agree to the proposal.
on your conscience
1/ˈɔn jˈʊɹ kˈɑnʃəns/
fixed phrase
Causing guilt or responsibility
If something is on your conscience, it makes you feel guilty or responsible for it.
Examples
- That mistake will be on my conscience for the rest of my life.
- He didn't want her death on his conscience.
prick of conscience
1/pɹˈɪk əv kˈɑnʃəns/
fixed phrase
Small sudden guilt feeling
A small quick feeling that you did something wrong.
Examples
- He felt a prick of conscience when he saw her crying.
- A prick of conscience made her apologize.