Conscience
/ˈkɑnʃəns/
nounB2
Definition
Conscience is the part inside a person that helps them understand the difference between right and wrong. It often makes people feel guilty or proud depending on their actions. It guides behavior by giving a sense of moral judgment.
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See It in Action
The inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's behavior
- •Her conscience told her to tell the truth, even though it was hard.
- •He felt guilty because his conscience was bothering him after lying.
- •A good conscience makes people feel peaceful inside.
A person's moral sense or ethical awareness
- •The company acted with a clear conscience after following all the laws.
- •He has a strong conscience and always tries to do what is right.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conscience" like "feeling" (A1 word), but a special feeling about right and wrong inside you
- ✓Picture a small voice inside your head that whispers "this is good" or "this is bad"
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you do something you know you shouldn’t, making you feel uneasy or sorry
- ✓Sounds like "CON-shence" → imagine a conscience as a tiny "con" artist inside you, always checking your actions carefully
- ✓Think of the story of Pinocchio, where his nose grows when he lies—his conscience tells him he did wrong
- ✓NOT like "thought" (which is any idea), conscience is about moral feelings and rules inside you
- ✓NOT like "fear" (which is about danger), conscience is about what is right or wrong
- ✓NOT like "rule" (which is external), conscience is an internal guide from yourself
Try Other Words
- •Morality: ideas about right and wrong behavior (Use when talking about general rules or beliefs about right and wrong)
- •Ethics: principles of right conduct (Use in formal or professional contexts about right and wrong)
- •Guilt: feeling bad after doing something wrong (Use when focusing on the negative feeling after wrongdoing)
- •Sense of right and wrong: the ability to know good from bad (Use in simple explanations or teaching children)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "con-" (with, together) + "science" (knowledge) → knowledge together with oneself, meaning inner knowledge
- •Etymology: From Latin "conscientia," meaning "knowledge within oneself"
- •Historical development: Used since the 14th century to mean awareness of moral right or wrong
- •Modern usage: Used to describe a person's inner moral voice or feeling that guides decisions
Reflect & Connect
•How does your conscience help you make difficult decisions in daily life?
•Can a person's conscience change over time? What might cause that change?
Fill in the blanks
1.When someone breaks a rule, their conscience may ___ them to feel guilty.
2.A clear conscience often makes people feel ___ and calm inside.
3.Unlike fear, conscience guides us by telling us what is ___ or wrong.
4.People with a strong conscience usually try to ___ the right thing, even if it is hard.
5.The voice of conscience is an ___ feeling, not something we see or hear outside.
6.Sometimes, people ignore their conscience and ___ bad choices anyway.
7.A guilty conscience can ___ someone to admit their mistake.