Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

conscience

 - definition
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun [countable/uncountable] British English pronunciation: conscience /ˈkɒnʃ(ə)ns/ 
Word Forms
Close
singularconscience
pluralconsciences
Other entries for this word
  1. the ideas and feelings you have that tell you whether something you are doing is right or wrong

    Each person must vote according to his or her own conscience.

    The decision must be a matter of individual conscience.

    guilty conscience (=a bad feeling because you have done something wrong):

    It's hard to imagine how people live with a guilty conscience.

    clear conscience (=the knowledge that you have done nothing wrong):

    We want to leave with a clear conscience, knowing we did the job right.

    struggle/wrestle with your conscience:

    After a night of wrestling with his conscience, he decided to go to the police.

    ease someone's conscience:

    People give a few pounds to charity in order to ease their consciences.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of conscience
    1. a.
      the ideas and principles of moral behaviour that the members of a community or group share

      Discrimination is a problem that's been troubling America's social conscience for years.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of conscience

phrases

This is the British English definition of conscience. View American English definition of conscience.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for conscience.

 

cyberloafing

using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

neutron

the part of the nucleus of an atom that has no electrical charge

Open Dictionary

show a bit of ankle

… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog