n.1 a moral sense of right and wrong esp. as felt by a person and affecting behaviour (my conscience won't allow me to do that).
2 an inner feeling as to the goodness or otherwise of one's behaviour (my conscience is clear; has a guilty conscience).
Phrases and idioms:
case of conscience a matter in which one's conscience has to decide a conflict of principles. conscience clause a clause in a law, ensuring respect for the consciences of those affected. conscience money a sum paid to relieve one's conscience, esp. about a payment previously evaded. conscience-stricken (or -struck) made uneasy by a bad conscience. for conscience (or conscience') sake to satisfy one's conscience. freedom of conscience a system allowing all citizens a free choice of religion. in all conscience colloq. by any reasonable standard; by all that is fair. on one's conscience causing one feelings of guilt. prisoner of conscience a person imprisoned by a State for holding political or religious views it does not tolerate.
Derivatives:
conscienceless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L conscientia f. conscire be privy to (as com-, scire know)