consciencerecognition of difference between right and wrong: His conscience bothered him when he cheated on the test.Not to be confused with:conscious ? aware; capable of thought or will: a conscious decision; cognizant: She was conscious of the stranger standing close to her.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreecon·science (k?n?sh?ns)n.1. a. An awareness of morality in regard to one’s behavior; a sense of right and wrong that urges one to act morally: Let your conscience be your guide.b. A source of moral or ethical judgment or pronouncement: a document that serves as the nation’s conscience.c. Conformity to one’s own sense of right conduct: a person of unflagging conscience.2. The part of the superego in psychoanalysis that judges the ethical nature of one’s actions and thoughts and then transmits such determinations to the ego for consideration.3. Obsolete Consciousness or awareness of something.Idioms: in (all good) conscience In all fairness; by any reasonable standard. on (one’s) conscience Causing one to feel guilty or uneasy.[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin c?nscientia, from c?nsci?ns, c?nscient-, present participle of c?nsc?re, to be conscious of : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + sc?re, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]con?science·less adj.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.conscience (?k?n??ns) n1. (Philosophy) a. the sense of right and wrong that governs a person’s thoughts and actionsb. regulation of one’s actions in conformity to this sensec. a supposed universal faculty of moral insight2. conscientiousness; diligence3. a feeling of guilt or anxiety: he has a conscience about his unkind action. 4. obsolete consciousness5. in conscience in all conscience a. with regard to truth and justiceb. certainly6. on one’s conscience causing feelings of guilt or remorse[C13: from Old French, from Latin conscientia knowledge, consciousness, from consc?re to know; see conscious] ?conscienceless adjCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014con?science (?k?n ??ns) n. 1. the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives, impelling one toward right action: to follow the dictates of conscience. 2. the complex of ethical and moral principles that controls or inhibits the actions or thoughts of an individual. 3. an inhibiting sense of what is prudent. 4. conscientiousness. 5. Obs. consciousness; self-knowledge. Idioms: 1. in (all) conscience, in all reason and fairness. 2. on one’s conscience, (of a wrongdoing) burdening one with guilt. [1175?1225; Middle English