/ ˈkɒnʃəns; NAmE ˈkɑːn-/ noun
1.
[ C , U ] the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong :
to have a clear / guilty conscience (= to feel that you have done right / wrong)
This is a matter of individual conscience (= everyone must make their own judgement about it) .
He won't let it trouble his conscience.
—see also social conscience
2.
[ U , C ] a guilty feeling about sth you have done or failed to do :
She was seized by a sudden pang of conscience.
I have a terrible conscience about it.
3.
[ U ] the fact of behaving in a way that you feel is right even though this may cause problems :
freedom of conscience (= the freedom to do what you believe to be right)
Emilia is the voice of conscience in the play.
—see also prisoner of conscience
•
IDIOMS
- in (all / good) conscience
- on your conscience
—more at prick verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (also in the sense inner thoughts or knowledge ): via Old French from Latin conscientia , from conscient- being privy to, from the verb conscire , from con- with + scire know.